SEA Games 2023: Gold Medal Target Has Been Achieved, What Next?

JAKARTA - The 32nd edition of the SEA Games has entered its final period. Currently, Indonesia is still struggling to push to the top two positions.

Until the 10th day of the match, Vietnam and Thailand strengthened their positions in first and second place in medal collection. Meanwhile, Indonesia can at least maintain third place.

Until this news was made, the Indonesian contingent was recorded to have won 74 gold, 68 silver and 94 bronze medals.

That number is still far below the second rank in Thailand, which collected 94 gold, 76 silver and 93 bronze. Moreover, Vietnam, which is increasingly leading with 123 gold, 100 silver, 98 bronze.

However, Indonesia can at least remain above the host Cambodia, which is currently in fourth place.

In addition, the acquisition of 74 gold medals has also exceeded the target where President Jokowi previously asked Indonesia to win at least 69 gold medals.

Throughout the 10th day of the Cambodian SEA Games 2023, Monday, Indonesia's work was colored by the news of success as well as the story of failure.

One of the disappointing news is the failure of the Indonesian men's basketball team to defend the SEA Games gold medal, after being defeated by the Philippines in the semifinals.

The Indonesian Men's Basketball National Team, which at the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games won gold, now only hopes to at least bring home a bronze medal in their third-place match against Thailand on Tuesday.

However, the failure of the men's basketball team could at least be entertained by the success of the women's basketball team, which the day before confirming the first SEA Games gold medal.

The weightlifting branch continues its tradition as a gold medal barn for Indonesia at the SEA Games.

In Monday's match, Indonesian lifters added two gold medals, namely through Tsabitha Alfiah Ramadani who managed to become the best in the women's 64kg class, and Rahmat Erwin Abdullah who performed perfectly in the men's 81kg class.

With this result, the weightlifting branch has contributed five gold medals at the 2023 SEA Games.

Indonesia also won the gold medal through the men's doubles soccer sport after defeating Malaysia in the final which took place at the Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Monday.

The Indonesian Takraw Football Team, which has a trio of Muhamad Hardiansyah Muliang, Saiful Rizal, and Rusdi, won the rubber game over Malaysia with a score of 14-21, 21-16, and 21-13.

Victory in the men's doubles also repeated the results achieved from the same number at the SEA Games Manila (2019) and SEA Games Hanoi (2021).

It was the second gold donated by the Sepak Takraw team for the Indonesian contingent after previously being in the Men's Double Team number, the quartet of Andi Try Sandi Saputra, Saiful Rijal, Jelki Ladada, and Rusdi appeared as the best by defeating Myanmar in the final match.

In the taekwondo arena, Megawati Tamesti Maheswari became Indonesia's savior after being the only one who managed to bring home the gold medal at the XXXII/2023 Cambodia SEA Games from this martial arts sport.

In the final round, Megawati won the final match against Thai athlete Chutikan Jongkoltattanawatna with a score of 2-1.

In the wrestling branch, Indonesia on Monday's side won a gold medal through Mutiara Ayuningtyas in the women's 53kg class.

Mutiara's success failed to be followed by four other Indonesian female wrestlers who lost in the final and semifinal matches.

However, Indonesia still has the opportunity to add gold medals in this wrestling sport on Tuesday's last day match, where five classes will compete.

Tuesday, May 16, will be the final match of the 2023 SEA Games before the closing ceremony of the Games on Wednesday, May 17.

Indonesia still has hopes for additional gold medals, including from prestigious soccer and badminton sports.

In the badminton branch, although the new final match will be held on Tuesday, Indonesia can already confirm two gold medals in the final of fellow Indonesian athletes (all-Indonesia final) in the men's singles individual number and women's doubles SEA Games 2023 Cambodia.

Christian Adinata and Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo and the couple Febriana Dwi Puji Kusuma/Amalia Cahya Pratiwi and Meilysa Trias Puspitasari/Rachel Alllessya Rose successfully beat their respective opponents in the semifinals on Monday.

In addition to the two final All Indonesia parties, Indonesia also places representatives in mixed doubles and men's doubles.

In the mixed doubles number, Rehan Naufal Kusharjanto/Lisa Ayu Kusumawati were able to overcome the Thai pair, Ratchapol Makkasesithorn/Chasine Korepap in a three-game battle with a score of 19-21, 21-18, 21-19.

In the men's doubles, Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Rambitan stepped into the final after passing the Singapore doubles Nge Joo Jie/Johann Prajogo with a score of 21-16 and 21-18.

In the beach volleyball, there is hope that Indonesia will add two gold medals after the men's teams and women's teams managed to qualify for the final round.

Meanwhile, the most anticipated match on Tuesday is the final match of football which will bring together the Indonesian national team against Thailand.

It is hoped that the Indonesian football team can bring home the gold that has been awaited since 32 years ago.