UNS — National Paralympic Week (Peparnas) XVI was officially opened on Friday (5/11/2021). This year Peparnas is held in Papua and will be participated by the best athletes from 34 provinces in Indonesia. Nanda Mei Sholihah, or Nanda, a student of Sports Coaching Education Program (PKO), Faculty of Sports (FKOR), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, will be one of the athletes fighting in Peparnas as a representative from East Java Province in 100 meters athletics.
Nanda said that she had full preparation for Peparnas and had trained for three months. With all of the preparation, Nanda is optimistic that she could bring home a gold medal in Peparnas.
“I want to break my limit from my improving personal best. Last time I was at 12.9 seconds. Insya Allah, (I) want to be better. Insya Allah, my target is gold, but for the time record, (I) want to improve it,” Torch Relay Asian Games 2018 bearer stated.
Peparnas 2021 is not the first Peparnas for Nanda. The runner from Kediri, East Java, had participated in three Peparnas in 2013, 2016, and 2021. In the two previous Peparnas, Nanda always brought home medals; one silver for 100 meters athletics and a bronze medal from the long jump in Peparnas 2013 Riau, and three gold in 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters athletics in Peparnas 2016 di Bandung. This year, she is only allowed to compete in one championship.
Although she won gold medals in previous Peparnas, Nanda still trained well for this year Peparnas. The 11-years runner prepared herself to meet new faces this year. “So far, I do not have an idea on a biggest competitor from which province, but I have prepared myself well so that I’m not surprised if there are new athletes from other provinces that are better,” she added.
Besides actively competing in the national level sports championship, Nanda also won many other international sports championships. Nanda won three golds in 100 meters, 200 meters, and 400 meters athletics in the Asian Youth Paragams 2013 in Malaysia. The following year, Nanda brought home two gold medals from 100 meters and 200 meters athletics and a bronze medal from 400 meters athletic in ASEAN Paragames Myanmar. Nanda also won three gold medals in ASEAN Paragames 2015 Singapura and ASEAN Paragames 2017 Malaysia.
Good luck, Nanda! Hope you can bring gold medal home. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti