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Asian Para Games: RI’s chess contingent secures six golds
Fruitful result: Indonesian chess player Debi Ariesta (right) holds a pawn during the qualifying round of the chess competition at the 2018 Asian Para Games at Cempaka Putih sports hall on Tuesday
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ruitful result: Indonesian chess player Debi Ariesta (right) holds a pawn during the qualifying round of the chess competition at the 2018 Asian Para Games at Cempaka Putih sports hall on Tuesday. Debi went on to win a gold medal in the women’s standard individual B1 (visual impairment) category on Wednesday.(INAPGOC/Setiyo Sc)
Indonesia’s chess contingent added a total of six golds, three silvers and three bronzes to the country’s medal tally after completing a number of standard chess matches at Cempaka Putih Sports Hall, Jakarta, on
Wednesday.
In the men’s standard B1 (visual impairment) category, Indonesia won two gold medals from individual and team events.
Hendi Wirawan won a gold after booking a final score of 5.5 points, higher than the 5 points scored by his Philippine opponent Francis Ching. Hendi’s win was also a turning of the tables, as Francis previously defeated Hendi in the sixth round.
In the men’s team standard B1 category, Hendi and teammate Edy Suryanto scored 10.5 points, presenting Indonesia with another gold medal.
“This win has been the result of our hard work and training so far. I’m truly honored to be able to present this gold medal for my country,” Edy said as quoted by detik.com.
The women’s individual and team standard B1 categories also saw the host country come away with two golds. Debi Ariesta secured a gold medal in the individual category after winning seven rounds straight, while the team category’s gold medal went to Indonesians Debi, Wilma Margaretha Sinaga and Tati Karhati, after they earned a total of 12.5 points.
“I’m overwhelmed with joy. This is the Indonesian people’s victory,” she said.
The country added two more gold medals in the women’s individual and team standard motor impairment categories. Farta Simanja Nasip managed to claim the gold medal in the individual category and another one in the team category alongside teammate Roslinda Br Manurung.
Tati Karhati won silver in the women’s individual VIB1 category, as did Maksum Firdaus in both the individual P1 and in the men’s team P1.
Edy Suryanto won the bronze in the men’s individual VI B1, men’s P1 and men’s team P1.
Chess team manager Heri Isranto praised the team’s performance, acknowledging that it exceeded its initial target of four gold medals.
“Given our hard work and training, I had faith that we were going to deliver to the maximum. There will still be the speed chess category, where we also excel. I also believe that we could make a statement in this category,” he said.
The national team won 14 gold medals at the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, exceeding its initial target of 12.
Earlier, National Paralympics Committee chief Senny Marbun said he was optimistic that the team would perform well at the third Asian Para Games, as it would have home-crowd advantage.
“Playing before a home crowd would significantly boost the athletes’ morale,” he said.
However, Senny also acknowledged that despite being the host, the athletes should stay focused and remain calm as they would face great opponents.
