Indonesian Swimming Team Wins Gold, Breaks Four Records at ASEAN Para Games 2025

Indonesian para swimming athlete Mutiara Cantik broke a record at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. (NPC Indonesia)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian swimming team successfully made a surprise at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. They showed maximum performance and were able to reap six gold medals. Not only that, they created four new records that were successfully recorded by the team under the guidance in the fast-paced competition at the swimming pool at the 80th Anniversary Stadium Aquatic Center, Nakhon Ratchasima, Wednesday, January 21, 2026).

The swimmer under the guidance of Agni Herarta unexpectedly won six gold, eight silver, and three bronze medals. This achievement feels even more special because the swimming team managed to break four ASEAN Para Games records. The first record was scored by Mutiara Cantik Harsanto who appeared in the women's 100m breaststroke SB9.

The 22-year-old athlete became the fastest in the event with a time of 1 minute 29.86 seconds. He successfully beat the Malaysian representative, Jua Xuan Ong, who recorded a time of 1 minute 32.99 seconds. Meanwhile, the host swimmer, Thailand's Monruedee Kangpila, took third place with a time of 1 minute 34.97 seconds.

Meanwhile, Mulyadi also set a record in the men's 100m breaststroke SB4. The 35-year-old swimmer was in the lead after recording a new fastest time with a record of 1 minute 44.70 seconds.

Meanwhile, the other two record breakers, Muhammad Gerry Parker who won gold in the 100m breaststroke SB6 with a time of 1 minute 32.49 seconds and Abdul Majid Rahman from the 100m breaststroke men's SB7 with a time of 1 minute 21.27 seconds.

Meanwhile, two gold medals from the para swimming category were won by Siti Alfiah in the women's 400m freestyle S6 with a time of 6 minutes 56.85 seconds, and Syuci Indriani from the women's 100m butterfly S14, with a time of 1 minute 11.41 seconds.

Indonesian para swimming athlete, Mutiara Cantik, said she did not expect to get two medals at the 2022 Para Asian Games. Moreover, she did not set a target when appearing in the S9 100m freestyle because it was not her specialty. However, Mutiara Cantik actually won a silver medal.

"I really didn't expect to get two medals. Moreover, in the 100 meter freestyle, it is actually an additional number. While the previous number was removed," said Beautiful Pearl.

Mutiara Cantik actually could have predicted that she would get gold from the women's 100m breaststroke S9. However, she did not expect to make a new record.

"This record has actually been broken again when I competed in Peru in October 2025 with a time of 1 minute 31 seconds. And it turns out that the record was broken again. Yes, thank God, but I didn't expect to break this record again," he said.

In the previous edition of the ASEAN Para Games, Cantik managed to carve two golds and four silvers in Cambodia. If talking about his target for this edition, he has the ambition to carve a better achievement.

"For the target, I just want to achieve better achievements than the previous edition. Because in the APG Cambodia, I got two golds and four silvers. Hopefully I can add to the number of golds at the APG this time. Otherwise, I just want to improve my best time," he said.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Gerry was proud to present a gold medal on the first day and break a new record. He was able to outperform a number of heavy competitors, including the mainstay athlete of the host, Aekkarin Noithat, who had to settle for silver.

"On the first day I managed to get gold. I competed very closely with other athletes. I was only two seconds behind the silver medalist," said the 22-year-old athlete.

Regarding the record carved in this number, Gerry actually did not feel satisfied. Actually, he had a much better time record in the training session. However, he was still grateful because this new record was a pride in itself.

"I'm targeting two golds at the 2025 APG. I'm also happy to have broken the record when I won gold today. Although it hasn't reached my personal best, it's okay. This can heal a little wound," he said.

Coach Puas

Meanwhile, the coach of the Indonesian para swimming team, Agni Herarta, was proud of his students' achievements on the first day. With this achievement, he felt confident that his athletes' spirits would continue to burn on the next day of the competition.

"This result is very satisfying. It makes us more confident to face the next four days. I am grateful because today the children performed beyond expectations. This certainly adds to the overall team spirit," he said.

Agni admitted that the four new records recorded by Indonesia proved that the hard work of the athletes during the preparation period could bear fruit. He also hopes to surpass the target that has been set for the ASEAN Para Games 2025 swimming event.

"The four new records created today should have been won by the athletes. Because, this is the result of their hard work during the preparation period. We are increasingly optimistic about meeting the target at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games," he said.

"We are realistic, from the eight targets set, so far we have gotten six gold. We are trying to fulfill this target first. However, I hope we can exceed this target," he said.

Swimming Para Medal Recap:

Gold Medal

1. ⁠ ⁠Siti Alfiyah - 400m freestyle putri S6

2. ⁠ ⁠ Mutiara Cantik Harsanto - 100m breaststroke putri SB9 (rekor baru)

3. ⁠ ⁠Syuci Indriani - 100m butterfly women S14

4. ⁠ ⁠ Mulyadi - 100m breaststroke men SB4 (new record)

5. Muhammad Gerry Parker - 100m breaststroke SB6

6. Abdul Majid Rahman - 100m breaststroke men SB7

⁠Silver Medal

1.⁠ ⁠Syailendra Ihza Firmansyah Putra - 100m breaststroke SB14

2. ⁠ ⁠Aris Wibawa - 100 gaya dada SB7

3. ⁠ ⁠Mutiara Cantik Harsanto - 100m freestyle putri S9

4.⁠ ⁠Theradina Audria Lie - 100m freestyle putri S10

5. Nor Aimah - 50m backstroke women's S6-S7

6. ⁠ ⁠ Fajar Nur Hadianto - 50m backstroke men S6

7. ⁠ ⁠Syuci Indriyani - 200 meter breaststroke women SB14

8. ⁠ ⁠Aris Wibawa - 200m breaststroke men SB4

Bronze Medal

1.⁠ ⁠⁠Simon Abraham Situmorang - 100m breaststroke men SB4

2. Riyanti - 400m freestyle putri S6