Potential Gymnastics Athletes In South Sulawesi Threatened To Fail To SEA Games 2022 Due To Cost Constraints

Gymnastics athlete from South Sulawesi, Muthia Nur Cahya, is in danger of not being able to go to the 2022 SEA Games Vietnam due to financial constraints. (ANTARA/Abd Kadir)

JAKARTA - Bad news emerged in the preparation of the Indonesian contingent for the SEA Games in Vietnam, May 2022. Gymnastics athlete from South Sulawesi (South Sulawesi), Muthia Nur Cahya, is threatened not to go because of financial constraints.

This was stated by the administrator of the All-Indonesian Gymnastics Association (Persani) of South Sulawesi, Arif Ramli in Makassar on Tuesday, March 1. He said, KOI only accommodates four individual athletes consisting of two sons and daughters to strengthen the national team in aerobics and artistic or gymnastic events.

To get a share from the KOI, Muthia had to compete with athletes from other regions, including DKI Jakarta, which is known to be strong in individual numbers.

Arif then asked the Persani Executive Board (PB) to repatriate Muthia from the national training program if she was unable to guarantee the budget for the athlete to appear in Vietnam. He said that the South Sulawesi Provincial Pengprov Persani could not afford it.

"I have contacted PB Persani to repatriate the athletes if the cost of competing in the SEA Games is charged to the South Sulawesi Provincial Pengprov Persani," said Arif, who is also the coach of South Sulawesi, as quoted by Antara.

He explained, Pengprov Persani Sulsel so far is in a difficult condition. The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) of South Sulawesi is currently focusing on holding the Musorprov for the change of management for the 2022-2026 period in March.

Muthia Nur Cahya is actually a potential athlete. He became a gold contributor for the South Sulawesi Contingent at the XX 2020 National Sports Week (PON) in Papua.

Currently, Muthia Nur Cahya is joining the 2022 SEA Games National Training Team with independent funding, as reported by Antara.

"We have explained the condition of South Sulawesi to PB Persani. Of course, we still hope that a solution can be found in order to keep going to the upcoming SEA Games," he said.