Among them was Raema Lisa Rumbewas, who clinched silver medals in weightlifting at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2004 Athens Olympics.
The athletes also included 1977 Jakarta Asian Boxing Championships gold medalist (light heavyweight class) Benny Maniani, 2013 Myanmar South East Asia (SEA) Games rowing gold medalist Erni Sokoy, and1983 Singapore SEA Games volleyball gold medalist Kartika Monim.
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Novilus Yoku, who bagged two karate gold medals at the 1999 Brunei Darussalam SEA Games, and Melly Mofu, who broke the record and won a gold medal in the 400 meters hurdles at the 1977 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, also carried the flag.
Two other Papuan athletes Rully Rudolf Nere and Imanuel Daundi, who won the 1987 Indonesia SEA Games football gold medal and the 1992 Jakarta Pencak Silat World Championship gold medal, respectively, also bore the flag at the ceremony.
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Meanwhile, the athlete's oath was declared by Papuan shooting athlete Maria Bonay, while deputy chairperson of the Papuan Karate Referee Council, Manase Opur, said the referee's oath.
The PON opening ceremony started with a performance by Edo Kondologit, Michael Jakarimilena, and Nowela Elizabeth Auparay singing Tanah Papua, which means "Land of Papua", arranged by Yance Rumbino.
The national song, Indonesia Raya, was performed by the Gema Chandra Choir of Cenderawasih University.
The contingent parade was closed by the host -- Papua province – and was followed by the raising of the flags of the 34 provinces of Indonesia.
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Translator: Arindra Meodia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
