Ni Nengah Widiasih wins Indonesia’s first medal at 2026 Asian Para Games
The Indonesian para powerlifter took bronze in the women’s 41 kg category with a best lift of 97 kg while still recovering from a shoulder injury.
Indonesia opened its medal tally at the 2026 Asian Para Games through Ni Nengah Widiasih, who finished third in the women’s 41 kg para powerlifting competition in Japan on 19 October. Her strongest lift was 97 kg at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center in Aichi prefecture.
The Chinese winner lifted 120 kg, while Kazakhstan’s Tursynay Kabyl recorded 104 kg to take silver. Widiasih had won silver at each of the three previous editions, in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
The 33-year-old from Bali said she was pleased with bronze despite being unable to compete at full fitness. She suffered a torn shoulder muscle during a competition in Egypt and said she had not fully recovered.
Widiasih said she tried to increase her lifts through the competition to improve her world ranking as she pursues qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics. She also noted stronger competition from younger athletes in her category.
She indicated that this would probably be her final Asian Para Games appearance. Her priorities are rehabilitation with her medical team and physiotherapists in Solo, alongside earning qualification points for Los Angeles. If she qualifies, she said those Paralympics could be her fifth and the final competition of her career.
