Surakarta, C Java (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Paralympics Committee (NPC) is aiming to secure 35 gold medals in para-athletics at the 2022 XI ASEAN Para Games next July, an official has informed.
To achieve the target, 23 men and 22 women para-athletes are undergoing intensive training at Sebelas Maret University Stadium, Surakarta, Central Java.
"We have selected 66 para-athletes for the 2022 ASEAN Para Games para-athletics. Currently, we have only 45 para-athletes participating in the intensive training sessions; the rest of the athletes will join the training next April," Indonesia NPC athletics coach Purwo Adi said here on Saturday.
Some para-athletes that are yet to join the sessions will attend a trial in Switzerland next May, which will also serve as preparation for the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, next October, he informed.
Up to 120 out of 200 sports that have been prepared by the NPC team are expected to be contested during the 2022 ASEAN Para Games, the coach said, adding that the final sports will be determined after deliberations with participating countries.
The Indonesia NPC team is expected to bag at least 35 out of the 120 gold medals at stake in the sprint, jump, and throw para-athletics competitions during the Games, he said.
During the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Indonesian para-athletics successfully bagged 40 gold medals for the national NPC team, making Indonesia the grand champion at the Games, he noted.
"We are optimistic about Indonesia NPC para-athletes achieving the gold medal target. Our main competitor during the Games will be Thailand because their para-athletes often participate in international competitions," Adi said.
Meanwhile, Indonesia NPC chairperson Senny Marbun said that around 1,500 participants from nine Southeast Asian countries have registered for the 2022 ASEAN Para Games.
The countries that have registered their teams are Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, East Timor, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia, which will host the Games, he said.
Two Southeast Asian countries, Laos and Vietnam, are yet to register their team, pending an official invitation from the organizer, he added.
Around 300 para-athletes are expected to strengthen the Indonesia NPC team that would participate in all sporting events during the 2022 ASEAN Para Games. Indonesia NPC is expecting the national team to achieve the grand champion title and repeat its success in Kuala Lumpur after winning 126 gold medals.
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