Indonesia aims to defend leading place in medal tally at 2020 ASEAN Para Games

JAKARTA - The Indonesian squad for the upcoming 2020 ASEAN Para Games was sanguine to defend its overall lead in medal rankings during the Games in the Philippines next month, the National Paralympic Committee said here on Tuesday.

Indonesia has set a target to secure at least 100 gold medals during the 10th ASEAN Para Games, which is slated to take place from January 18 to 25, 2020, said the committee's Vice Secretary Rima Ferdianto.

Indonesian athletes will compete in 16 sports and some of them are considered potential to contribute gold medals to the country's contingent, including athletics, swimming, badminton, table tennis, chess and weightlifting, according to Rima.

Rima said that the Thai contingent would be considered as the strongest opponent during the 10th ASEAN Para Games, media reported on Tuesday.

The Indonesian contingent secured 126 gold medals, 75 silver medals and 50 bronze medals during the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia, making Indonesia the overall leader in medal table.

The ASEAN Para Games is a biannual multi-sport event held after every Southeast Asian Games involving disabled athletes from 11 Southeast Asian nations.