DILI, 12 september 2023 (TATOLI) – Twenty-six Timorese athletes will leave on 14 september for Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China, to participate in the Asian Games to be held on 23 september 2023.
Before leaving for China, the 26 athletes met with the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, to get the President’s advice in preparing to compete at the Asian Games.
The 26 athletes are made up of eight women and 18 men. They will compete in a number of different sports, including boxing, badminton, karate, beach volleyball, tennis camps, taekwondo, athletics, and shooting.
During the meeting, President Horta encouraged the athletes to compete well, saying that they are the country’s ambassadors, representing Timor-Leste at the international event.
“President Horta hoped that our athletes would not only compete but also represent and portray the country’s image in China. The Head of State, therefore, expects our athletes to behave well during the competition,” said the Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Nélio Isac Sarmento, at the Presidential Palace, in Dili, today.
Minister Sarmento said that winning or losing is not important, adding that the most important thing is discipline: “We hope our athletes will perform well during the competition.”
“The first group of the athletes is due to leave on 14 september. While the second group will depart on 16 september,” said Sarmento. “Those who will not make it to the end will probably return early, before the event’s closing ceremony.”
He said the IX Government’s priority is to provide athletes with adequate resources to compete in the event: “We allocated around 400,000 dollars for these athletes to participate in the upcoming Asian Games.”
“If these athletes return home with good performances, it’s a privilege for us. It would motivate our young people to be involved in sporting activities so that they can compete in international events such as the Asian Games,” said Sarmento.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
