Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Imam Nahrawi opened the national sports games for athletes with disabilities, called the 15th National Paralympic Week Games (Peparnas XV 2016), here on Saturday.

A total of 1,983 disabled athletes and 718 officials from 33 provinces are participating in these games that began today and will run till October 24 in the West Javas city of Bandung.

The disabled athletes will compete in 13 sports disciplines such as athletics, weightlifting, sitting volleyball, chess, tennis, table tennis, soccer, bowling, swimming, badminton, judo and goalball, according to the general chairman of the Peparnas 2016, Ahmad Heryawan.

The sports minister stated that the event will prove to be a good start for the national Paralympic athletes to perform to their best ability in next years SEA Games in Malaysia and the Asian Games in 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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