Indonesian lifter Ni Nengah Widiasih has said she is grateful that her hard work paid off and she won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in para-powerlifting.
She said she felt very proud since the medal was not only the first medal for Indonesia at the event, but also the nation’s first silver medal since the 1988 Seoul Paralympics.
“I am definitely happy and proud. The result has met my personal target since I was ranked second in the world before I competed in this tournament. I admitted that the Chinese lifter is very strong,” she remarked in her official statement to the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee, received here on Thursday.
“However, I am grateful because our flag has been able to fly at the event. I also managed to improve my achievement from earning bronze in Brazil to winning silver here,” she added.
Widiasih earned the medal after clinching a lift of 98kg — her career best — in the 41-kilogram (kg) class. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she bagged the bronze medal by lifting 95kg.
After her win, Widiasih thanked the Indonesian government for its continuous assistance to Indonesian Paralympics athletes. “Hopefully, I can perform well at the ASEAN Para Games and Asian Para Games next year. I also hope my achievement can motivate other athletes who will fight,” she remarked.
Her success has brought Indonesia its first Paralympics silver medal in 33 years. At the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, the Indonesian contingent was only able to win one bronze medal each.
However, despite succeeding in maintaining its medal-winning tradition in the last three Paralympics, Indonesia has not won any gold medal to date since the 1980 Arnhem Paralympics.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics women’s 41-kg class para-powerlifting gold medal was earned by Chinese lifter Guo Lingling, who broke her own record to lift 109kg. The bronze medal was bagged by Venezuelan lifter Clara Sarahy Munasterio who lifted 97kg.
Source: Antara News