Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A total of 302 paralympic athletes competed in the 2019 South Kalimantan Student Paralympic Game (Peparpeda) which took place at the Multipurpose Building of School for the Disabled Students (SLB-C) on Jalan Ahmad Yani Km 20, Banjarbaru, Wednesday (1/5) afternoon.
The sporting event for athletes with disabilities was opened by South Kalimantan Government's Assistant III for General Administration Heriansyah representing Governor H Sahbirin Noor.
"The governor hopes this event to produce outstanding student athletes who will later become South Kalimantan ambassadors at a higher level," said Heriansyah.
Moreover, a number of South Kalimantan athletes have carved history at the 2019 Special Olympic World Games (SWOG) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, such as Raihan who won several medals.
The good tradition, added Heriansyah, must be maintained and even improved from the seeds of student athletes who are currently competing in 2019 Peparpeda.
"All have the right to achievement, as well as children with special needs. The South Kalimantan Provincial Government is also committed to doing maximum coaching to support more brilliant achievements," he said.
Head of the South Kalimantan Youth and Sports Agency Hermansyah said the event was at the same time a selection for the national event 9th Peparpernas in Papua.
"We hope to get the best athlete who can talk a lot at Peparpernas which will be held this year," he said.
Peparpeda will last four days from 1 to 4 May, 2019 in Banjarbaru. Five sports are contested, namely table tennis, badminton, athletics, swimming and chess.
