Nine Indonesian Athletes Selected for Rio Paralympic Games

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia has selected nine of its athletes for the Paralympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from September 7 to 18, which is twice the number sent to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Of the nine that passed qualifications, four were swimmers, two weightlifters, one table tennis player and two athletes, according to data from the Ministry of Sports.

The four swimmers are Matianus Melianus Yonci, Agus Ngaimin, Jendi Panggabean and syuci Indriyani. The weightlifters are Ni Nengah Widiasih and Siti Mahmudah, while the table tennis player is Michael Dian David Jacob. The two athletes are Setiyo Budi and Abdul Halim Dali Monte.

Sports minister Imam Nahrawi lauded the increase in the number of athletes participating in the event, saying it meant the chance to win medals was also big.

"The numbers of Indonesian athletes participating in both, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, are bigger than before, so I hope it will increase the chance to win medals," he said.

In 2012, Indonesian table tennis player Jacob was able to win a bronze medal. "I hope history will be rewritten in Brazil and the country's national flag will be flown and the national anthem heard at the event. We hope for support from the community for the success of both, Olympic and Paralympic teams, he said.

The Indonesian National Paralympic Committee expects medals in the table tennis and weightlifting events, the sports ministry's Deputy for Improvement of Sports Performances, Gatot S Dewa Brata said.

"The rivalry in the Paralympic Games is equal to that of the Olympic Games. The chance for winning a medal in weightlifting is quite good and also in swimming and athletics. We hope Jacob will improve his performance," he said. (WDY)