Indonesia gets bronze in Paralympics, breaking twenty years of drought

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Sports, September 03 2012

Dian David Michael Jacobs: (Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)

Indonesia grabbed a bronze medal in the 14th Paralympic Games, after twenty years of coming home empty handed.

Dian David Michael Jacobs grabbed the medal in table tennis after beating José Manuel Ruiz Reyes from Spain in the Excel center in London on Sunday night.

The 32-year-old athlete gained victory in four sets. David won the first set 11-9, but was later defeated in the second set 7-11. David managed to salvage the match by rebounding in the last two round sets, 11-5 and 11-6.

After claiming the title, David shed tears of happiness.

The National Paralympic Committee (NPC) secretary general Pribadi said that it was the first time David participated in the event.

Pribadi has proposed that the government award Rp 100 million (US$10,487) to the bronze medalist. However, the government has not yet agreed to the proposal.

"It is the best achievement of an Indonesian Paralympics team so far," said Indonesia’s chef de mission, James Tangkudung, as quoted by kompas.com.

Indonesia’s last achievement in the Paralympics was at the 1998 Toronto games where it collected two silver medals. Since its absence in 1992, the country had not won any medals. 

(yps/iwa)