TEMPO.CO, Kota Kinabalu - Two sailing athletes from East Kalimantan Province have won gold medals in Merdeka Day Open Regatta 2016 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, held on August 25 to 28.
Riski Rahmadani and Nugie Triwiria’a achievements make the team manager Teddy Abay proud. He said East Kalimantan athletes had planned to test their ability before competing at the National Sports Week (PON) XIX 2016 in West Java on September 17 to 29.
“The athlete did not only get experience, they also won gold medals,” a press release of the Consulate General of Indonesia (KJRI) in Kota Kinabalu stated as received by Tempo, Sunday, August 28, 2016.
Riski and Nugie said that they and other East Kalimantan athletes were in prime condition and were ready to compete in Sabah. However, they also admitted that Sabah natural conditions were crucial in achieving the result.
The triumph has encouraged East Kalimantan athletes to perform their best in the PON. “We are aiming to win gold medals in the PON XIX,” Teddy said.
The annual Merdeka Day Open Regatta has been held ten times. This year’s event was held at Tanjung Aru beach, Sabah, which has vast, sloping beach profiles and decent wind conditions to hold a sailing competition.
East Kalimantan sailing team consisted of four men and four women, a coach, and a manager. Riski and Nugie secured gold medals in the prestigious International 420 class, beating other teams from Malaysia, Singapore, and China.
NATALIA SANTI