Uncertainty That Will Be Sent To The 2023 SEA Games Makes Beautiful Jumping Athletes Out Of Money From Their Private Pockets

Illustration of athletes jumping. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The 2023 SEA Games will begin on May 5. However, Indonesia has not confirmed which sports will send their representatives.

So far, there has been no official announcement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Review Team, the Indonesian Olympic Committee, and other related parties.

This uncertainty makes athletes diving have to spend their personal bags in preparation for the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games. From this number, there are three diving athletes who are prepared for the biggest sporting event in Southeast Asia with the 32nd edition.

They are Adityo Restu Putra, M. Ridho Akbar, and Gladies Lariesa Garina.

Until now, they have not practiced centrally and are still forging themselves in their respective areas. Adityo trains in Jakarta, Ridho in Palembang, South Sumatra, and Gladies in Surabaya, East Java.

Even athletes must be willing to spend personal funds to undergo training. For example, Adityo, who had to go back and forth from his residence in Bekasi to Jakarta.

"I as an athlete don't know (related to sure going to the 2023 SEA Games). The coach is most likely dispatched. But I continue to train so that when he departs, he is ready," Adityo said, as reported by Antara, Thursday, April 6.

On a separate occasion, Gladies admitted that while practicing in Surabaya, he used personal funds for training purposes.

"I am still in Surabaya and waiting for a decree for the National Training Center. Maybe if there is a new time I will go to Jakarta. So far, I have been practicing using personal money, some activities have also been assisted by the City Government (City Government)," said Gladies.

Although there is no clarity, Gladies continues to maximize training. He hopes to get certainty soon regarding the departure to the 2023 SEA Games.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Swimming Association (PB PRSI) Ali Patiwiri said the proposal for the departure of the three athletes for diving had been included in the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) or NOC Indonesia.

"Only for the national training aid fund, there is no clarity," said Ali.

He also revealed that diving athletes should be able to train in one place, such as in Jakarta so that they can support each other.

Another option is if you don't get national training funds, continued Ali, PB PRSI will find funds for the departure of Gladies and his friends.

"I will discuss with the general chairman to find assistance from PB PRSI. We have submitted a proposal for the national training after being reviewed for no further developments," Ali added.

Initially, diving was not included in the discipline list that was dispatched to the 2023 SEA Games. Because, there is no track record of achievement considering that at the 2021 SEA Games which took place in Vietnam, last year, Indonesia did not participate.

However, in mid-November 2022, Indonesia participated in the FINA Grand Prix in Malaysia. As a result, Gladies won a bronze medal. Meanwhile, Adityo managed to reach the final which brought together the six best athletes.

These results open up opportunities for the Indonesian beauty jump team to go to the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. PB PRSI then submitted a proposal to the departure of athletes and has been reviewed. However, until now there has been no clarity regarding the fate of Gladies and his friends.