Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi is convinced the Indonesian Paralympics contingent will do its best to achieve gold medals at the upcoming Rio Paralympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event is slated to run from Sept. 7 to 18.

He said the athletes had spent eight months in training from early this year in Surakarta and therefore, in his calculation, they were more than ready for the biggest event.

“The contingent calmed our doubts by giving us one bronze medal at the 2012 London Paralympics Games in table tennis. Now, the sky is the limit and it’s not too much to hope for gold at the upcoming games,” he said as quoted by Antara on Friday.

Nine athletes have been selected through a rigorous training process to represent Indonesia at the upcoming competition. They are Setyo Budi Hartanto and Abdul Halim Dalimonte in athletics, Ni Nengah Widiasih and Siti Mahmudah in weightlifting, Agus Ngaimin, Jendi Panggabean and Marinus Melianus Yowey in swimming and Dian David Jacobs, who won bronze at 2012 London Paralympics, in table tennis.

These athletes will also be accompanied by 13 physicians, coaches, officials and assistants and the contingent will be led by Soekarno. They will depart for Rio on Sept. 5. Visually impaired Abdul Halim, who will participate in running, will be accompanied by Imanuel Permana. Imanuel will act as a guide for Abdul.

The number of the deployed athletes, double the size of the contingent sent to London in 2012.

Gatot S. Dewa Broto of the Youth and Sports Ministry said based on current evaluations, Indonesian athletes would have their best chances in three sports, namely swimming, table tennis and weightlifting.

“We expect that Dian David Yakob can improve his performance and therefore could secure more than bronze. The same expectations go for swimming as they have sent the largest number of athletes. Of course, we also hope that athletics and weightlifting will gain medals,” he said.

He further added that the government would also provide the same amount of money received by the Indonesians who claimed medals at the recently concluded Rio Olympics if the athletes could secure medals at the upcoming games.

“The same bonuses will be made available,” he told The Jakarta Post without further elaboration.

The government provides a lump sum of Rp 5 billion (US$380,000) for gold medalists and a Rp 20 million monthly allowance for the rest of the athlete’s life. Another Rp 2 billion is also provided for silver medalists alongside a Rp 15 million monthly allowance. As for bronze medalists, the government has set aside Rp 1 billion and a Rp 10 million monthly allowance.

The government has also promised that all bonuses will be given after tax.

Cash bonuses have been provided for four athletes, namely mixed-doubles pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir and weightlifters Eko Yuli Irawan and Sri Wahyuni Agustiani. Tontowi and Liliyana were rewarded with Rp 5 billion in cash while Eko and Sri were granted Rp 2 billion.

These athletes have also received bonuses from sponsors. Eko and Sri were offered new houses in two different locations in Bekasi and Pamulang. Tontowi and Liliyana were each given an additional Rp 2 billion from sponsors and the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI). These two shuttlers were also given new houses worth Rp 1.5 billion in Semarang, Central Java, and 65-inch televisions.

Popular

RI, Australia strengthen partnership on taxing crypto assets

Analysis: Indonesia denies normalization with Israel to enter OECD

Citroen to produce electric cars in Indonesia