Ni Nengah Widiasih

Biography

Widiasih was born and raised in Karangasem, Bali. She lost use of her legs at age four and began using a wheelchair. When she was in the sixth grade she began living at the dormitory run by the Disabled Children's Counselling Foundation (Yayasan Pembinaan Anak Cacat). Her daily expenses were handled by the foundation, and, beginning in middle school, her education was paid for through scholarships. As of 2012, she is in the second year of senior high school.

At the suggestion of her brother, fellow weightlifter I Gede Suantaka, Widiasih took up weightlifting. She began practising four to five times weekly. In 2008, she won a bronze medal at the ASEAN ParaGames in Nakhon Ratchasima, while the following year she received a silver medal at the Games in Kuala Lumpur. She also medaled at national level competitions in Surakarta and Bali. She competes in the 40 kilogram class.

Widiasih competed at the 2011 ASEAN ParaGames, held in Surakarta in December, after her class was nearly cut by a referee as "illegitimate". She set a record for the 40 kilogram class, lifting 87 kilograms (191.8 lb) after failing to lift 80 kilograms (176.4 lb) in an earlier attempt; the previous record was 85 kilograms (187.4 lb). This effort also won her a gold medal. For the games she was coached by Agus Sugiharto. In February 2012 she won a bronze medal at the Malaysia Open Powerlifting Championship in Kuala Lumpur.

Widiasih was on the six-member shortlist to compete in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London; in June it was announced that she would be one of three athletes competing, along with David Jacobs (table tennis) and an athletics competitor. She is the only one from the country who will compete in powerlifting; she is scheduled to compete in the 40 kilogram class.