JAKARTA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has vowed to defend the chess title at this March's 2020 ASEAN Para Games scheduled to be held in the Philippines, a coach said on Monday.
"Indonesia is sanguine to be champion at the chess event during the upcoming ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines," Teddy Wiharto, a coach from the National Paralympic Committee Indonesia (NPCI), said in Central Java province's town of Solo.
Indonesia will send 18 disabled chess players, nine men and nine women, to the multi-sports event slated on March 20-28, and has set the target of securing at least 10 gold medals, seven silver and six bronze.
"The Indonesian chess players are now ready for battle. With the adjourning of the schedule, they can step up preparations and strategies on how to defeat opponents," said Senny Marbun, president of NPCI, referring to the initial schedule of the sports event from January 18 to 24.
Indonesia has been the chess champion at every ASEAN Para Games since 2011, according to local media.
At the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Malaysia, Indonesia secured 14 gold medals, while winning 11 golds medals in the 2018 edition on home soil.
A total of 300 Indonesian athletes will take part in the 16 sports during the 2020 ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines.
