"There is a support team consisting of psychologists, masseurs, doctors, and other supporting officials, who always accompany the athletes and maintain their condition, so that they are ready to compete," Herman noted during the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee’s (NPC’s) press release received on Tuesday.
He affirmed that Indonesia is attempting to make history by aiming to become the champion of three consecutive ASEAN Para Games editions.
The Indonesian contingent is targeted to win at least 121 gold medals to top the medal standings.
The country has sent 286 athletes to participate in 12 sports: para-athletics, para-badminton, para-table tennis, para-swimming, powerlifting, blind judo, para-chess, sitting volleyball, cerebral palsy football, boccia, wheelchair basketball, and goalball.
"The target is based on the assessment and results of training and try-outs so far. The target is higher than the previous one when we were the host (of the ASEAN Para Games 2022), which was 104 gold medals," CdM stated.
At two earlier editions of the ASEAN Para Games, Indonesia always topped the medal standings.
Indonesia secured 126 gold medals, 75 silver medals, and 50 bronze medals at the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The country successfully defended its title as the overall champion when it hosted the 2022 ASEAN Para Games in Solo City, Central Java Province, by winning 175 gold medals, 144 silver medals, and 107 bronze medals.
The 2022 ASEAN Games was the 11th edition of the para games, which was initially set to be hosted by Vietnam in 2021 but was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Chairperson of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC), Senny Marbun, is optimistic that the Indonesian contingent can top the medal standings at the 2023 ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia, thereby becoming the overall champion of the para games for three consecutive editions.
"We have prepared everything carefully. With God’s help, we are sure that we can become the overall champion (of the ASEAN Para Games) three times in a row," he added.
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Translator: Muhammad Ramdan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Anton Santoso
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