ASEAN Para Games XI 2022: Ni Nengah Widiasih Chance To Win Gold Weightlifting Women's Class 45 Kg

Ni Nengah Widiasih, has the opportunity to donate gold to Indonesia in the 45 kg women's weightlifting branch of the ASEAN Para Games XI 2022. (Antara)

JAKARTA - The weightlifting branch has the potential to donate Indonesia's first gold in the XI ASEAN Para Games (APG) in 2022. The golden opportunity comes from lifter Ni Nengah Widiasih, who will drop in the women's 45 kilograms (kg) class, Monday, August 1 2022 at the Solo Paragon Hotel. The weightlifters were one of the first branches to compete for medals at this APG.

In addition to hunting for the first gold, the woman who is familiarly called Widi carries the mission of defending her title. In the previous edition of APG in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, Widi successfully donated gold in the 45 kg class. The Red and White mainstay lifter admitted that she was ready to compete and scored the first gold for Indonesia.

"I will try my best to defend the title, especially since we are the hosts. Hopefully the song Indonesia Raya can be heard", she said when met at the APG Main Media Center, Swiss-Belinn Saripetojo Solo, according to a release received by VOI on Saturday, July 30, 2022.

Predicated as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics bronze, Widi is the seed in the 2022 APG. However, Ni Nengah Widiasih needs to be wary of competitors like Achelle Guion. The Filipino senior lifter won silver in the 45 kg class at the 2014 Asian Para Games in South Korea.

"I think all athletes have their own strengths. I am wary of them, but they must also be wary of me. I am one of the strongest among them", said the woman born in Karangasem, Bali.

When asked about her tips for dealing with the burden because of her superior status, Widi admitted that she tried to concentrate only on the match. She said previous achievements should be a boost instead of a burden when competing.

"As much as possible, just be happy. Focus on concentration so that during the game you can get the most out of it."

Indonesia itself is targeting to score six gold medals from the weightlifting branch at the ASEAN Para Games XI 2022. The Red and White contingent will compete in 13 classes out of a total of 18 classes competed.

On the first day of the competition, Monday, the ASEAN Para Games XI 2022 weightlifters will play the women's 41 kg, 45 kg, 50 kg, 55 kg and 61 kg classes (the schedule is subject to change after the technical meeting on Sunday, July 31, 2022. In addition to Widi, Indonesia will also lose lifters for their daughters, namely Eneng Paridah (41 kg) and Rani Puji Astuti (61 kg) on the first day of the medal race.