Khofifah Gives Jere Basuki Mawa Beya Badge The Highest Award To Athlete With Disabilities Khalimatus Sadiyah

East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

SURABAYA - The East Java Provincial Government awarded the Jer Basuki Mawa Beya Badge to the disabled athlete, Khalimatus Sadiyah, for his dedication and achievement in raising the name of the region.

"The Jer Basuki Mawa Beya Gold badge is the highest honor from the East Java Provincial Government to someone who has been dedicated and accomplished in raising the name of East Java," said East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa in Surabaya quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 13.

For Khofifah, Khalimatus Sadiyah not only raised the name of East Java, but also made the nation proud in the international arena for his achievements at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which took place recently.

The athlete who was born in Mojokerto, East Java, September 17, 1999, was paired with Leani Ratri Oktila, in the women's doubles badminton sport of the SL3-SU5 Paralympic Tokyo 2020 classification.

Classification SL3 -SU5 is an athlete with a walking disorder or imbalance, as well as upper body limitations.

In the final which took place at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, Sadiyah/Ratri won the gold medal after defeating the doubles pair Cheng Hefang/Ma Huihi from China in two straight games, with a score of 21-18, 21-12.

Khofifah pinned the Jer Basuki Mawa Beya Badge to Khalimatus Sadiyah after the commemoration ceremony for the 76th Birthday of East Java Province in the courtyard of the Grahadi State Building, Surabaya. Khofifah also gave an achievement bonus to Khalimatus Sadiyah in the form of Rp. 750 million.

Responding to the appreciation, Khalimatus thanked him for the award given to him. According to him, this achievement could not be achieved without the support from various parties.

Alim, as he is known, with all his limitations as a person with a disability, has loved sports since childhood, including playing volleyball and soccer.

Alim then began to seriously engage in badminton when he was in 5th grade and joined the Bendo Sport club in Mojosari, Mojokerto.

In the history of Indonesia's participation in the Paralympics, it was recorded that the last time it won a gold medal was in 1980 which took place in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Thus, the gold medal that Alim and Ratri won at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was the first time after experiencing a famine for 41 years.

Indonesia is ranked 43 at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics with a total of nine medals, namely two gold, three silver and four bronze.