JAKARTA - Indonesian men's runner Saptoyogo Purnomo confirmed that he qualified for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. He achieved this ticket after breaking the Asian record for the men's 100-meter T37 running number at the 2023 Para-Atletics World Championships in Paris which rolled 9-17 July.
At that event, Saptoyogo won a silver medal in the men's T37 100 meters class with a time of 11.27 seconds.
Saptoyogo is behind Brazil's Ricardo Gomes who won gold after posting 11.21 seconds. Brazil's representative Gabriel Luiz Da Costa also occupies the third position with 11.38 seconds.
In addition to ensuring tickets to the Paris Paralympics, Saptoyogo's record time at the 2023 World Championships also sharpened his personal and Asian record which was inscribed when he won bronze at the 2020 Paralympics (2021) in Tokyo, Japan, by posting 11.31 seconds.
"Precisely, my time is quite happy because I was able to break a personal record but I am grateful to be able to qualify for Paralimpade 2024," said Saptoyogo, as quoted by Antara.
The success of Yogo, Saptoyogo's nickname, in securing the 2024 Paralympic ticket, received appreciation from coach Purwo Adi Sanyoto.
"Of course Yogo's achievements are an extraordinary result. Apart from sharpening his personal record, Yogo was also able to break Asian records," said Purwo.
After participating in this athletics world championship, athletes will return to their training concentration. The Indonesian para-athletic team will focus on appearing at the 2023 Asian Para Games Hangzhou, China.
As for the Paris Paralympics, Saptoyogo became the second Indonesian athlete to successfully ensure that he competed in the world's largest disability sports event.
Previously, there was the name Bolo Triyanto from the para-shooting sport who became the first Red and White athlete to qualify for the Paris Paralympics after winning the silver medal number R5-Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH2 at the World Shooting World Championship (WSPS) in Al Ain, United Emirates, November 14, 2022.
With this result, the Indonesian National Olympic Committee (NPC) is optimistic that Indonesia can continue to add representatives at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
"Our target is 30 athletes who qualify for the Paris Paralympics," said Deputy Secretary General of NPC Indonesia Rima Ferdianto.
The number that is targeted to increase from the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan is with 23 athletes. In addition to passing more athletes, NPC Indonesia also has the ambition to add sports to qualify for the latest sporting event. These opportunities are in the branches of boccia and judo tuna.
In the previous edition at the Tokyo Paralympics, the Red and White squad managed to bring home two gold, three silver, and four bronze.
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