Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is targeting seven gold, eight silver, and 17 bronze medals to secure a top-10 finish at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for October 18–24.
The target was set based on an evaluation of the athletes' potential by the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC Indonesia) ahead of the departure of 103 Indonesian athletes for the multi-sport event.
In a statement received on Monday, the Indonesian contingent's Chef de Mission (CdM), Reda Manthovani, said the goal was set based on training performance and qualification achievements, using criteria set by the Asian Paralympic Committee.
"To keep things realistic while motivating our athletes, we've set a target for the Indonesian contingent to finish in the top 10," Reda said during the send-off ceremony for the 2026 Asian Para Games contingent in Surakarta, Central Java, on Monday.
Indonesia is sending 103 athletes across 12 sports to achieve this target. The contingent is scheduled to depart for Japan on Tuesday (October 13), five days before the opening ceremony.
Beyond aiming for a top-10 finish, Indonesia also set its sights on boosting its standing in Southeast Asia.
Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir expressed hope that the Indonesian team can close the gap on Thailand, historically one of its fiercest regional rivals.
Erick noted that Indonesia has amassed 76 gold medals over its history at the Asian Para Games. Meanwhile, Thailand has collected 91 gold medals, leaving Indonesia trailing by 15.
The minister emphasized that the gap should serve as motivation to drive performance improvements among Indonesian athletes.
"I hope that moving forward, we can gradually claim the number one spot in Southeast Asia. We can do this," he said.
Erick also reminded the athletes not to waste this opportunity and to give their best effort in every event.
He assured that the Indonesian government is fully supporting the contingent's needs, from their preparation through to the competition in Japan.
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Translator: Hendri Sukma, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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