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Indonesia's para athletes to maintain top form ahead of postponed Games
The Games, according to the new schedule, will run from March 20-28, instead of Jan. 18-24.
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High spirits: Swimmer Jendi Panggabean trains in Surakarta, Central Java, recently. (Kemenpora.go.id/Egan)
O
fficials are confident that a recent decision to postpone the ASEAN Para Games until March will not be an issue for the athletes set to participate in the competition. The government will therefore ask all para athletes to focus on training.
Youth and Sport Ministerial secretary Gatot S. Dewobroto said the government had earmarked Rp 15 billion to cover the additional two months of training. He added that the funding would be disbursed in January and would be allocated mainly to pay the salaries of coaches and athletes , as well as to cover accommodation costs.
“All athletes will continue training until their departure in March,” Gatot told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
International sports achievement division head Yayan Rubaeni stated earlier that the government had so far spent Rp 119 billion on training and other preparations for the ASEAN Para Games and Tokyo Paralympics. Another Rp 30 billion, he added, would be allocated to fund the national contingent’s departure and to cover costs during the ASEAN Para Games.
The Games, according to the new schedule, will run from March 20-28, instead of Jan. 18-24. The Indonesian para athletes contingent comprises 300 athletes and 250 coaches, in addition to supporting officials.
National Paralympics Committee (NPC) head Senny Marbun said the postponement would mean more time to hone skills and strategy.
The Indonesian contingent came out big at the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, taking home 126 gold medals, 75 silver and 50 bronze.
