DILI, 05 october 2023 (TATOLI) – Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão encouraged the 11 Timorese athletes who will be competing at the Asian Para Games to do their best.
“With all the effort you’ve made, I can’t ask for more. I hope you get there safe and do your best,” said Gusmão during the departure ceremony at the Government Palace, on thursday.
Gusmão asked these athletes to collaborate with other athletes to develop sports in Timor-Leste after returning from the Asian Para Games.
Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MJDAK), Nélio Isac said that the 11 athletes will be accompanied by their trainers: “The delegation is made up of 25 people. They will leave for Hangzhou, China on october 15, 2023.”
Minister Nélio hoped these athletes to perform well and bring home medals: “The 11 athletes will compete in three different types of sports – weightlifting, table tennis, and also athletics.”
One of the female athletes, Pascoela dos Santos Pereira, is committed to doing her best to win any game during the competition.
“I’m ready to compete, but I’m leaving everything in God’s hands. I still have the ability to compete to take Timor-Leste forward,” she hoped.
The Acting President of the National Paralympic Committee, Mateus Lucas, explained that the Committee prepared the athletes to compete at the Asian Para Games with the support of more than US$50,000: “In order to take part in this competition, the Government allocated another US$100,000.”
The upcoming Asian Para Games will be held in Hangzhou, China between 22 and 28 october, 2023.
The Asian Para Games also known as Para Asiad is a multi-sport event regulated by the Asian Paralympic Committee that’s held every four years after every Asian Games for athletes with physical disabilities.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
