Indonesian para powerlifter Ni Nengah Widiasih (center) trains on July 31, 2024 at the Kusuma Sahid Prince Hotel in Surakarta, Central Java, ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, which start on Aug. 28. Indonesia’s most decorated para powerlifter is seeking a third Paralympic medal. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
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ndonesia's most decorated para powerlifter Ni Nengah Widiasih shouts as she bench-presses a heavy weight at her training gym, pushing through a shoulder injury to prepare for her next challenge: winning a third Paralympic medal.
The three-time Paralympian, diagnosed with polio as a child and unable to use her legs, began powerlifting in elementary school, training with her brother in exchange for ice cream.
The Balinese para athlete went on to win bronze at Rio 2016, silver at Tokyo 2020 and even a Toyota sponsorship, and she is aiming for gold in the women's 41-kilogram category at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games that begin this week.
"Powerlifting has changed my life a lot," the 31-year-old told AFP at the national training center in Surakarta, Central Java.
"Maybe if I didn't do powerlifting, I don't know, I have no idea what I would do."
Ni Nengah says wanting to make her family and country proud was a driving force for another shot at a Paralympic medal.
"It's a personal target. Paris is not easy for me [because of the injury], but I will try as hard as I can," she said.
"I will do my best for Indonesia, for my family."
Women lifters
While men dominate Indonesia's overall Paralympic medal haul, women have always led the way in its para powerlifting representation.
No Indonesian man has ever qualified for the Paralympics in the sport.
Ni Nengah trains with two other women para powerlifters who have their own medal hopes and will be a part of Indonesia's largest-ever contingent to the Paris Paralympics.
She is joined by Siti Mahmudah, who competes in the 79 kg category, and Sriyanti in the +86 kg weight class.
This will be the second Paralympics for Siti, who lost her left leg to amputation.
Indonesian para powerlifter Siti Mahmudah trains during the national team’s training camp on July 31, 2024 at the Kusuma Sahid Prince Hotel in Surakarta, Central Java, ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, which start on Aug. 28. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
Sriyanti, who also had polio as a child, has gone from a chicken noodle seller to a Paralympian and silver medalist at the 2022 Asian Games.
Ni Nengah said the women's feat was all the more impressive because of the challenges that men would never encounter, recalling a recent competition day when her menstrual cycle began.
She experienced extreme pains in her stomach but still competed, liftng tens of kilograms.
"Thank God, I could handle it. It was quite disturbing. This won't be experienced by male athletes," she said.
'Nothing impossible'
Indonesian para powerlifting coach Eko Supriyanto said he was "more than amazed" by the all-woman trio.
But after Ni Nengah lifted 98 kg to take silver in Tokyo, he is managing expectations this time around because of her injury.
"We are pushing them to be able to compete at least for bronze," he said of the Paris Paralympics powerlifting event, which begins on Sept. 4.
"What is important is that we have done our best, worked hard and are disciplined."
Indonesian para powerlifter Sriyanti trains during the national team’s training camp on July 31, 2024 at the Kusuma Sahid Prince Hotel in Surakarta, Central Java, ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, which start on Aug. 28. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
Eko hopes that one day, a male athlete will join the impressive women to compete in para powerlifting for Indonesia.
But for now, the country’s top powerlifter Ni Nengah wants her medals to push more women to start lifting weights.
"I hope a lot of women out there are inspired by us," she said.
"Whatever our condition, as long as we give our effort, trust ourselves, there is nothing impossible for us."