After 8 Days Of Quarantine, Lifter Nurul Akmal Starts Exercising To Prepare For XX Papua PON

Indonesian lifter Nurul Akmal competing in the +87kg women's class at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (Photo: NOC Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Lifter Nurul Akmal, who recently returned from Tokyo after participating in the Olympics, admitted that he had started to undergo preparatory training ahead of the XX Papua PON which will be held on October 2-15, 2021.

The 28-year-old weightlifter revealed that he has now entered the National Training Center to make adjustments to his training after 8 days of quarantine upon arrival in Indonesia.

"For further training for the Papua PON, Amel will represent Aceh, as well as preparations for the Vietnam SEA Games and the Chinese Asian Games, and directly for the Paris 2024 qualifying ticket," said Nurul Akmal, who is familiarly called Amel, in a virtual discussion FMB9, Anatara , Friday, August 13th.

"Maybe it's an adjustment first, because I haven't practiced since quarantine... I haven't returned to Aceh, I'm still in Jakarta," he added.

Later, he revealed that the Aceh contingent would go to Jakarta, then depart together for Papua. "Information from KONI Aceh may be on October 2, weightlifting recipients in Papua, perhaps, (because) it is restricted there."

"Because it's possible to alternate with weightlifting or bodybuilding, maybe from weightlifting. So, no crowds, yes, that one goes home, this one goes in, later we go home, heavy lifters come," said Amel.

Furthermore, he said the exercise was carried out as usual, ie twice a day. According to him, there is no difference in training from before the pandemic.

"Now it remains the same, maybe from the pandemic even more because there are many vitamins that must be consumed to maintain the body's resistance, immunity," said Amel.

In fact, he revealed that during the pandemic he was even more focused on training.

Regarding the competition in weightlifting, Nurul Akmal, who made history as Indonesia's first female lifter to appear in the heavyweight (+87kg) Tokyo Olympics, admits that her toughest opponent is herself.

"Maybe the mentality will be improved later," said Nurul. While regarding the gold target of XX Papua PON, Nurul only said "God willing."