"In ASEAN Para Games (in Malaysia) I got four gold medals. This time, (I) must get at least one or two gold medals," Edy said on Sunday after the second round of the first day of the standard individual chess match at the Cempaka Putih Sports Hall in Jakarta.
Edy admitted, for the implementation of the 2018 Asian Para Games, he had made preparations by keeping on doing exercises including through sparing abroad with non-disabled athletes.
He claimed that all this time the toughest opponent he faced was from Vietnam, but for the Asian Para Games as it was the first time for him to join, he had not been able to measure the strength of other rivals such as those from Iran, India and Kazakhstan.
"From the beginning I have played against Vietnamese athletes so I can measure (the strength). If (I) just meet the first time in the second round, it (rival) will be great," he remarked.
Edy met a tough rival namely Vietnamese chess player Dao Tuan Kiet in the first round of individual V1-B1 standards, but he successfully defeated the 17-year-old athlete.
According to him, the next round of chess matches will definitely be heavier. So, all that needs to be done is to have a rest immediately to recover stamina.
Edy Suryanto is one of the Indonesian national team`s mainstay chess athletes. He is ranked first for the visual disability category while at general level Edy is in 23rd position.
A total of 2,762 athletes from 43 countries participated in the 2018 Asian Para Games, which was declared open by President Joko Widodo on Saturday evening (Oct.6).
More than 500 gold medals are contested by all athletes participating in the sport events taking place from October 6 to 13.
As many as 18 sports to be contested in the event are basketball, volleyball, fencing, table tennis, swimming, shooting, judo, cycling, chess, weightlifting, bowling, goal ball, badminton, running, archery, boccia, handball, and tennis.
The Indonesian contingent to the Asian Para Games 2018 comprised 296 athletes, 40 coaches, 18 managers, 35 coach assistants, and 33 officials.
Reporting by Desi Purnamawati
Editing by Bustanudin, Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
