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RI eyes gold at Rio Paralympics
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Blessing: A National Paralympic Committee (NPC) athlete kisses the national flag while Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi (right) looks on during the ceremony in Karanganyar, Central Java, on Friday to send the athletes off to the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. (Antara/Maulana Surya)
Y
outh and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi believes that the Indonesian Paralympics squad will be able to equal its achievement of four years ago, or even improve on it, at the upcoming Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro from Sept.7 to 18.
“The contingent managed to bring home a bronze medal from the 2012 London Paralympics Games in table tennis. We have high hopes for a gold medal at the upcoming games,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency on Friday.
The athletes have spent the past eight months training in Surakarta, Central Java, and will be ready for the quadrennial event.
Nine athletes have been selected through a rigorous process to represent Indonesia at the Paralympics, namely Setyo Budi Hartanto and Abdul Halim Dalimonte in track and field; Ni Nengah Widiasih and Siti Mahmudah in weightlifting; Agus Ngaimin, Jendi Panggabean and Marinus Melianus Yowey in swimming; and 2012 bronze medalist Dian David Yakob in table tennis.
They will be accompanied by 13 physicians, officials and assistants and the contingent will be led by Dr. Soekarno. They will depart for Rio on Sept.5.
Youth and Sports Ministry spokesman Gatot S Dewobroto said the same bonuses would be available for medalists at the Paralympics as for the recent Olympics.
The government has provided Rp 5 billion (US$384,615) for gold medalists and Rp 20 million in monthly allowances for the rest of the athlete's life. Another Rp 2 billion is provided for silver medalists plus Rp allowances of Rp 15 million per month. Bronze medalists will also be rewarded with Rp 1 billion and Rp 10 million per month. All bonuses are after tax. (yan)
