Not Departing For The 2021 SEA Games Hanoi, Rhythmic Gymnastics Athlete Sutjiati Narendra: I Just Want To Bring Indonesia's Name

Rhythmic gymnastics athlete, Sutjiati Kelanarithma Narendra. (Photo: Instagram @sutji.ritma)

JAKARTA - Rhythmic gymnastics athlete Sutjiati Kelanaritma Narendra expressed his feelings of not being able to participate in the 2021 SEA Games Hanoi. He felt that he did not receive government support when he wanted to appear in the biennial event.

This was conveyed by Sutjiati when she was invited to be a guest star on the Deddy Corbuizer podcast. He was disappointed because the desire to make Indonesia proud using personal funds was difficult to realize because it was not permitted by the government.

"Yes, it is not supported. (In fact), we need extraordinary support," said Sutjiati, who won two gold medals for Lampung at the Papua National Sports Week (PON) last year.

"Actually I just want to bring the name of Indonesia. I want to join the match. Yes, winning does not win the name of the sport. Actually I just want to get experience," he continued.

Rhythmic gymnastics is one of the sports that did not go to Hanoi along with 13 other sports. This sport was not included due to several considerations from the review team, one of which was an unproven achievement.

Sutjiati said that if achievement was the main consideration, it would be a bit difficult because rhythmic gymnastics itself is not yet popular in Indonesia. For this reason, rhythmic gymnastics needs support from afar in order to get achievements in the future.

"If that's the case here, I think it's the other way around. We as athletes need support from a long time ago and we will get achievements," said the athlete who was born in New York, United States.

Before making achievements in PON Papuan, Sutjiati had already competed at the international and national levels. He was even called up to the United States Gymnastics National Team.