Lifter Rahmat Erwin Won 2 Gold Medals At The World Championship Without The Red And White Fly

Rahmat Erwin Abdullah (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesian athletes have made achievements in the international arena. This time from the 2021 Weightlifting World Championship where lifter from Makassar Rahmat Erwin Abdullah won two gold medals.

Unfortunately, along with the achievements, there is also a bitter reality that must be faced by the representatives of Indonesia. The reason is, when getting on the podium to receive a medal, Indonesian lifters cannot fly the red and white flag.

During the victory ceremony in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Friday night, December 10, Rahmat could only sing the national anthem without flying the Indonesian flag. This incident was the aftermath of the sanctions imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Indonesia regarding doping tests.

Despite the absence of the Indonesian flag at the victory ceremony, Rahmat managed to climb the podium after making the best lift in the men's 73 kg class and the clean and jerk class.

In the clean and jerk category, the 21-year-old lifter became the best after lifting 192 kg in the third batch. Rahmat Erwin opened the first lift with 180 kg and the second with 186 kg.

Rahmat Erwin beat Albanian lifter Briken Calja who took home silver after posting the best clean and jerk lift of 186 kg. Meanwhile, South Korean lifter Hansol Jeong won bronze with the best force of 181 kg.

Regarding Rahmat's achievements at the 2021 World Weightlifting Championships, Head Coach of National Training, Dirja Wihardja said that Rahmat Erwin's achievements were consistent with his achievements after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"The total force achieved by Rahmat Erwin Abdullah has increased by 1 kg from the last Tokyo 2022 Olympics," said Dirja Wihardja as quoted by Antara, Saturday, December 11.

In the 2021 Weightlifting World Championships, the Executive Board of the Indonesian Weightlifting Association (PB PABSI) sent 14 athletes to Tashkent, the majority of whom were young lifters.