Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) released a contingent of Indonesian athletes who will compete in the XXXII SEA Games in Cambodia 2023 at the yard of the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta on Tuesday (2/5/2023).
In his remarks, the President hoped that the Indonesian contingent could make a better achievement than the achievement at the SEA Games XXXI in Vietnam.
“I just want to say that at the SEA Games in Vietnam, we won 69 gold medals and we were ranked third. Well, now it should be more than that. I ask for the gold to be above 69, the ranking is also above three. There are only two choices, rank one or rank two,” the President was quoted as saying in a press release.
Although it is not an easy target, the President believes that Indonesian athletes who will fight at the multi-sport event in Southeast Asia have been equipped with qualified abilities to compete later.
“It is not an easy target, not an easy target, but I see that all athletes who are present here and who are leaving certainly have very sufficient provisions for later competing, competing in Cambodia,” the President said.
In response, Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo said in his report that the Indonesian contingent will participate in 31 out of 36 sports. The number of athletes who will participate in the 32nd SEA Games is 599 athletes accompanied by 230 coaches and officials, as well as the support of the headquarter team and sports personnel consisting of doctors, paramedics, masseurs, recovery team as many as 55 people.
“Currently, some sports have started competing early such as soccer, cricket, and indoor hockey. Hopefully it can spur the spirit of all sports and the Indonesian contingent,” Dito said.
Furthermore, the Menpora said that the composition of the Indonesian contingent at this year’s SEA Games consists of 70 percent junior athletes, most of whom are still students. According to him, this composition aims to provide opportunities for young Indonesian athletes to foster the spirit of patriotism and nationalism through international events.
“So that they can excel in the future and increase productivity and competitiveness in implementing the vision of human resource development,” he continued. (Photo: BPMI Setpres/InfoPublik)
