TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian athletes under the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Indonesia succeeded to take home 2 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and one bronze in the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al-Maktoum 3rd Dubai Para Badminton International 2021.

Leani Ratri Oktila won gold in the women’s single SL4 and in the women’s double with Khalimatus Sadiyah (SL3-SU5). Silver was won by Hary Susanto and Leani Ratri Oktila in the SL3-SU5 mixed double; Fredy Setiawan and Suryo Nugroho in the men’s SU5 double; and Dheva Anrimusthi in the men’s SU5 single. Bronze was won by Suryo Nugroho in the men’s single SU5.

The tournament was participated by 127 para-badminton athletes from 29 countries, from March 30 - April 4, 2021, in Dubai.

“This is one of the most anticipated events as the pandemic has truly limited the number of tournaments. NPC Indonesia sent 7 athletes from the Paralympic Tokyo national team to take part in this tournament,” said the national team’s coach Yunita Ambar Wulandari,on Tuesday, April 6.

According to the head coach of the NPC Indonesia para badminton team, Jarot Hernowo, this event was fully utilized by the Indonesian team to study and gather as much input about competitors, which they will face in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic.

The seven Indonesian para-athletes scheduled to perform in the Paralympics are: Dheva Anrimusthi in the SU5 disabilities classification, Hary Susanto (SL3), Leani Ratri Oktila (SL4) Khalimatus Sa’diyah Sukohandoko (SL4), and Suryo Nugroho (SU5).

IRSYAN HASYIM (CONTRIBUTOR)