Malang (malangkota.go.id) – The Malang City Government through the Youth, Sports and Tourism Service held the 2022 Paralympic Games at the Gajayana Stadium, Saturday (22/5/2022).
Head of the Youth, Sports and Tourism Office of Malang City, Dr. Ida Ayu Made Wahyuni, SH., M.Si said that the 2022 Paralympic Competition is a routine activity. The aim is to find and cultivate superior seeds of Malang City athletes in the field of para sports (sports participated in by people with disabilities).
It is hoped that through this activity, talents will emerge from Malang City in the field of para sports who can be sent and compete in regular events, both at provincial, national and even international levels.
"This Paralympic Competition is in collaboration with the National Paralympic Committee of Indonesia (NPCI) Malang City Branch, which routinely holds activities every year. This sports activity is to find superior seeds for the younger siblings who are members of the NPCI paralympic activities in 2022," explained Ida.
Ida further said that the emphasis is not only on winning, but how they feel happy and appreciated. She also advised all participants who took part in the 2022 Paralympic competition to always be enthusiastic. So that all activities carried out will be able to produce something in the future. "This morning, all of you will take part in the 100-meter race, if you don't win, it doesn't matter, the important thing is that we are all healthy and fresh," concluded Ida to all participants in her speech.
The winners will later be trained by NPCI, so that if there is a championship such as the provincial level, they will be sent there. Like in 2020, sending athletes to the Provincial Paralympic Week (Peparprov) who managed to get one gold, two silver and two bronze.
"So I hope that there will be talents in the field of para sports who can compete at the regional level of East Java province, at the national level and even at the international paralympic level. Like Oddie Kurnia DLP, a parabadminton athlete who is currently competing in Dubai in the 4th Fazza Dubai Para Badminton International 2022 championship representing and bringing the name of Indonesia and the city of Malang," he added.
The sports branch that was competed was the 100-meter run, which was participated by 95 participants with disabilities, including deaf, mute, mentally and intellectually disabled, upper and lower physical disabilities and blind students from Special Schools (SLB) and inclusive schools in Malang City.
One of the participants who is a special needs child (ABK) from SMA Muhammadiyah 1 Malang, Amarita Nur Azizah, admitted that she was happy to be able to take part in this running competition and was proud to be able to represent the school.
Furthermore, the Special Guidance Teacher (GPK) of SMA Muhammadiyah 1 who accompanied her students to participate in the 2022 Paralympic Competition, Defi, added that this was the first time her school had participated in the Malang City Paralympic Competition. She revealed that several preparations were made before participating in this competition such as physical and mental preparation. (eka/ram)
"With their existing abilities, we can maximize their interests and talents, who knows if they are interested, we will continue to foster them," he said. (eka/ram)
