Puan Maharani Appreciates The Achievement Of The Indonesian Contingent At The 2023 SEA Games

Puan Maharani. (BPMI Setpres)

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, congratulated the success of the Indonesian contingent which won the 3rd place in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. Puan said she was proud of the achievements of the nation's best sons and daughters in the biggest sporting event in Southeast Asia.

"I congratulate and thank the Indonesian contingent for winning many medals in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. From the start I was sure that Indonesia's best sons and daughters would make the nation proud and be able to fly the Red and White Flag on the podium," said Puan, Wednesday, May 17.

As is known, Indonesia came out in third place in the 2023 SEA Games medal standings with 86 gold, 81 silver and 109 bronze medals with a total of 276 medals. The red and white contingent was below Vietnam with 355 medals and Thailand who won 312 medals.

This achievement is the best since the 2011 SEA Games. At that time, Indonesia received a total of 277 medals. Meanwhile, at the last SEA Games event in 2021 which was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, Indonesia managed to bring home 241 medals and became the third winner.

Although Indonesia remains in third place for the SEA Games this time, Puan Maharani assesses that all members of the Garuda contingent have succeeded in making progress. The Indonesian contingent has also met the target of being in the top 3 SEA Games winners.

"High appreciation for the struggle of the entire Indonesian team contingent at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, with a total medal that was more than the previous SEA Games. This is a very proud increase in achievements," said the first woman who served as Chair of the DPR RI in a written statement received by VOI editors.

In the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, Indonesia recorded eight sports that became overall champions. The eight sports are Esports, Bike Racing, Tennis, Badminton, Pencak Silat, Wushu, Weightlifting and Football.

"I am sure, if all the nation's children and components of the nation unite, then Indonesia will be stronger and more resilient in realizing the goals of the state and in facing various challenges of the nation," explained Puan.

The chairman of the 2018 Asian Para Games Steering Committee also appreciated the success of the Indonesian U-22 national team (Timnas) which managed to gain gold in the (Sports) sport of football. According to Puan, the 32-year long wait has been cured thanks to the hard work of the Garuda squad in the final match against Thailand, Tuesday, May 16 evening. The acquisition of the third winner at the SEA Games feels even sweeter with the dramatic match of the football national team last night which presented a gold medal after 32 years of waiting. Last night's match is proof that sports can unite the Indonesian nation. Congratulations, Garuda Muda," he said.

Puan also gave appreciation to all other sports athletes, including Esport sports. As a new sport, the Indonesian Esports team is believed to be growing because it is filled by sons and daughters who have dedication, struggle and perseverance for the sake of the nation and homeland.

"Esports sports filled with the best young people must also receive attention because these sports continue to get medals. The spirit of struggle through sports must be supported by all parties, because those who will later make the nation proud," said Puan Maharani.

Since being first introduced as an exhibition sport at the 2019 SEA Games, Esports has become one of the medalors for the Indonesian contingent. At the 2019 SEA Games, Esports Sports contributed two medals. Then at the SEA Games the Indonesian team won 6 medals. Then at the SEA Games this time, Indonesia became the overall champion in the Esports Sports with 5 medals.

The proud achievement given by the Indonesian SEA Games contingent is proof of the importance of athlete development. Puan asked the Government to give high appreciation to the heroes in the field of sports.

"Make sure their struggles are properly respected. Because their struggle has brought pride to all Indonesian people," said the grandson of the proclaimer Bung Karno.

On the other hand, Puan also highlighted the importance of the State to ensure the welfare of athletes or former athletes. Moreover, the issue of athlete welfare is a mandate of Law No. 11 of 2022 concerning Sports.

"The problem of athlete welfare must cover them until they retire. That way, there will be no more cases of former outstanding athletes who have difficulty in retirement," said Puan.

Not a few of the lives of the athletes who made the nation proud ended sadly when they were no longer actively competing. Call it Ellyas Pical, a former junior bantamweight boxer who won the world title on May 3, 1983. In his old age he became an office boy.

In addition, there was a former SEA Games 1979 gold medal-winning bicycle athlete Suharto who had been a pedicab driver and scavenger after retiring from the sports world. The latest is the story of the former Indonesian national team goalkeeper, Kurnia Meiga, who was forced to sell her medal for treatment purposes.

Puan Maharani said the government must have a long-term strategy for the welfare of athletes.

"The state must be able to ensure that outstanding athletes do not live in trouble after retiring. They have made the nation proud, the task of the State is to help their lives to old age. A system must be created for former outstanding athletes as social security for their lives," he explained.

"Athlet welfare can be given in various forms, either in the form of cash or in the form of non-cash, such as awards, educational scholarships, pension savings and health insurance," continued Puan.

So far, the government's award efforts to guarantee the future of outstanding athletes are the appointment to become State Civil Apparatus (ASN), although there are also those who refuse for various reasons. Puan assessed that there must be other efforts made so that outstanding athletes who do not want to become ASN remain guaranteed in their future.

Long-term training is also needed for athletes. The government must facilitate the training with the aim that athletes will have skills in other fields to support survival in their old age," the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture urged.

As for the athletes, Puan hopes to continue to improve achievements in sports tournaments. Both regional, national and even international levels. By consistently practicing, the DPR believes that Indonesian sports will further make the nation proud in the eyes of the world.

'Consistent and hard work. This is the key to achieving success. Consistent and hard work like the fighters because the results will not betray the efforts and efforts will not betray the results. Make it motivation, so that our sport will be more accomplished," concluded Puan Maharani.