Para-powerlifting athlete Ni Nengah Widiasih is pursuing a culinary business in her hometown of Bali thanks to a bonus she received from the government.
Quoted from the official release of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Public Relations, Friday, Ni Nengah officially opened the Babi Guling Balah Men Bingin restaurant in the Kesiman area, Denpasar.
Ni Nengah said that the business stemmed from her family's background in cooking, especially her father, who was known for his expertise in Balinese cuisine and roasted suckling pig.
According to Ni Nengah, the government's attention to athletes is now different and extraordinary, thanks to the bonuses given by the government.
The two-time Paralympic medalist has expanded her career beyond weightlifting to the culinary business world as a way to prepare for the future and open up job opportunities for the community.
"My family is a great cook, especially my father. So why don't we develop it? It will also keep my father busy after my mother passed away," said Ni Nengah.
The plan to open a business had actually been a long-standing desire. However, the location search only began in earnest in late 2024. After several attempts to find a suitable location, the perfect location was finally found in late 2025, when he finally gave up and stopped searching.
This venture was her first with her brother. Ni Nengah acknowledged that the culinary world is very different from the sports and property investment worlds she was previously familiar with. She only realized the complexities of restaurant management after getting involved.
"It turns out it's not as easy as imagined. Behind one dish, there are many processes and people involved," said Ni Nengah.
As an athlete who has achieved international success, winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, and a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Ni Nengah realizes that an athlete's career has a limited lifespan. Therefore, this culinary venture is part of her long-term preparation.
"You can't be an athlete forever. This is part of my retirement preparation. At least I have a business and can create jobs," he said.
"I don't want to succeed alone. If we're given extra money, don't keep it to ourselves. Having just one or two employees is already very meaningful," he said.
The name Men Bingin, which is given to his restaurant, is taken from his late mother's last name as a form of respect.
All the dishes are prepared directly by his father, who he says cooks with love, as if he were cooking for his own family.
