We are optimistic...Solo, C Java (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC) has targeted the para judo athletes to clinch five gold medals in the XI ASEAN Para Games (APG) in 18 events contested.
"The competition will be held at the Tirtonadi Convention Hall arena, Solo City, Central Java Province," Head Coach of Para Judo Contingent of NPC Indonesia Imam Kuncoro stated at the Sahid Jaya Hotel, Solo City, Central Java Province, on Wednesday.
Kuncoro noted that currently, Indonesia was training 16 para judo athletes, comprising eight males and eight females, to compete in the international tournament.
The 18 events of para judo sports at the XI APG will be competed in four male and female classes (-66 kilogram/kg, 73 kg, -90 and +90 kg). Furthermore, each class is divided into two categories of athletes, with total vision impairment, and athletes, with partial vision impairment.
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In addition, there will be men's and women's team events.
According to the coach’s assessment, five Indonesian para judo athletes are expected to pocket gold medals.
The athletes are Junaedi from West Java Province (men’s 66-kg class), Rafffly Ahnaf Shidqi from West Java Province (men’s 73-kg class), Fajar Pambudi from Central Java Province (men’s 90-kg class), Melinda Artha from West Java Province (women’s 60-kg class), and Kristina from East Java Province (women’s 58-kg class).
Junaedi, Shidqi, and Pambudi will participate in the men’s singles match tryout in Turkey on April 17, 2022. In addition to the XI APG, they are preparing for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
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"We are optimistic that the athletes undergoing national training in Solo City, Central Java Province, would be ready to compete and achieve the target of five gold medals at the XI APG,” Kuncoro remarked.
The XI APG will be held in Solo City, Central Java Province, from July 30 to August 6, 2022, with participants from 11 Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, and the host, Indonesia.
Some 14 sports to contested at the event comprise athletics, boccia, archery, para judo, weight lifting, swimming, table tennis, field tennis, chess, goalball, badminton, bicycle racing, cerebral palsy football, and sitting volleyball.
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Translator: Bambang Marwoto, Uyu Liman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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