Ni Nengah Widiasih: Indonesia’s First Medalist at Asian Para Games 2026
Jakarta, IO – Ni Nengah Widiasih’s (Widi) bronze opened Indonesia’s medal tally at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games. Widi clinched bronze in the women’s 41kg event with a best lift of 97kg at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center in Aichi Prefecture on Monday, October 19.
She finished third behind China’s Cui Zhe, who won a gold with a 120kg lift, and Kazakhstan’s Tursynay Kabyl, who took a Silver with 104kg.
The bronze meant much more than just an achievement for Widi. It was a tribute for her late mother, who passed away two years ago.
“My mother passed away two weeks before I competed at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. I was devastated and failed to fulfill her dream of seeing me win a third consecutive Paralympic medal. But I promised her that I would bring home a medal this time,” Widi said, her voice trembling in the mixed zone, according to the Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) Ministry’s website.
“I hope she is proud of me. This medal is especially for my late mother and family at home,” she added.
Widi did not walk an easy path to the podium of Asian Para Games 2026. She tore her shoulder muscle at a tournament in Egypt in late 2025, leaving her still recovering when she competed in Nagoya.
She had to work harder to keep her performance up. Despite failing to keep her third consecutive Silver medal (in 2014, 2018 and 222), Widi was still grateful to be able to bring home a medal.
“This is my first Bronze medal. I previously fought for gold or silver at the Asian Para Games,” said Widi.
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“My shoulder injury has not fully healed, but I pushed myself to lift heavier weights in each session to improve my world ranking and secure a spot at the Los Angeles Paralympics,” she added.
Competition in the women’s 41kg category has also intensified. China fielded Cui he, who won gold in the 45kg category at the 2022 Asian Para Games, in Widi’s division. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Tursynay Kabyl won a silver in the women’s 41kg event at the previous edition.
The rise of young athletes has challenged Widi, a veteran of the international circuit, even more.
She still aims for a higher goal: the 2028 Paralimpiade Los Angeles (LA), which could be her fifth and final Paralympic appearance.
“I have a medical team and physiotherapists in Solo to sup- port my shoulder recovery. My main priorities now are to heal from the injury and improve my world ranking, to qualify for the Los Angeles Paralympics in two years,” she concluded. (rp)
