Indonesiaan Paragliding Athletes Ready to Compete

Jakarta (Antara) - As many as three Indonesian paragliding athletes namely Elisa Manueke, Nanang Sunarya and Lis Andriani will compete in 2013 World Games which will be held in Cali, Colombia on July 30 - August 4, an official said. "Coach Wahyu Yudha accompanies three athletes to compete in 2013 World Games," according to Head of Indonesia Paragliding Team Djoko Bisowarno said in a written statement made available to Antara here on Sunday. He said Manueke, Sunarya and Andriani are able to participate in the World Games because they are among the world's top 78 players. Hence, the International World Games Association (IWGA) invited them to compete in the World Games which is the second biggest multi-sport event after the World Olympics. "Indonesian athletes' participation in 2013 World Games is an appreciation from the world scene to Indonesia sports scene, especially to paragliding," he said. In 2013 World Games, Bisowarno further said Indonesia will rely on paragliding's women's event to snatch medals. Lis Andriana has won a World Champion tittle on Women Accuracy Event in 2012, while Elisa Manueke is currently the world's third ranked player in Paragliding Landing Accuracy World Cup. Meanwhile, the male player Sunarya is currently struggling to move from his 17th World Rank. Bisowarno said Indonesian paragliding athletes have showed an increasing performance since the Asian Beach Games in 2008 when they managed to contribute eight of 23 gold medals which were taken by Indonesian athletes at that event. Moreover, at 2011 SEA Games, Indonesia has snatched 10 gold medals and its great performance has continued when the country won three times in a row World Champion tittle on Women Landing Accuracy event since 2010 until 2012. "Physical and technical exercise has been done optimally by three athletes. We also will play with full support from Youth and Sports Ministry, Indonesian Sports Committee and Indonesian Aero Sport Federation," he said. (*)