Indonesian Male Runner Breaks Asia's Record for Men's 100m T37, Proceeds to 2024 Paralympics

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian male runner Saptoyogo Purnomo had just been assured that he will proceed to the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris, France after breaking Asia's record for Men's 100m T37 number. He is the second Indonesian athlete to compete at the biggest para-games event. "I am happy to break my record but I am grateful to be competing at the 2024 Paralympics," Saptoyogo said in a written statement, received in Jakarta, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

The record was achieved during his time competing in the 2023 Paralympics in Paris, held on July 9-17, 2023. He won a silver medal in Men's 100m T37 in 11.27 seconds. Saptoyogo came in second after Brazilian athlete Ricardo Gomes who won gold after recording 11.21 seconds. Third place was achieved by another Brazilian representative Christian Gabriel Luiz Da Costa with 11.38 seconds.

In addition to the 2024 Paralympics, Saptoyogo also broke his personal and Asia record in 11.31 seconds which he achieved after winning bronze in the Tokyo Paralympics 2021. "His achievement is extraordinary. He broke not only his personal record but also Asia's," said his coach, Purwo Adi Sanyoto.

After his achievement at the 2023 Paralympics, Saptoyogo and other athletes are back to the training grounds. They are preparing to compete at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

Indonesia's Target for the 2024 Paralympics

Before Saptayogo, Bolo Triyanto was the first athlete to proceed to the Paralympics after achieving R5-Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 at the World Shooting Para Sport in Al Ain, Uni Arab Emirates, on November 14, 2022. With that, the National Olympics Committee (NPC) of Indonesia is optimistic to add more athletes to compete at the event.

"Our target is 30 athletes to proceed at the 2024 Paralympics," said the Deputy General Secretary of NPC Rima Ferdianto to Antara, Tuesday evening. The target was higher than Paralympics XVI/2020 in Tokyo, where Indonesia sent 23 athletes to compete in several sports. In addition to increasing the number of athletes to compete at the games, NPC is also ambitious to add more sports branches for the athletes to compete, namely boccia and judo.

At the last Tokyo Paralympics, the Indonesian squad achieved two gold medals, three silver medals, and four bronze medals.

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