Puan: Hopefully The Indonesian Medal At The Cambodian SEA Games Will Be More Than In Vietnam

JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, hopes that the Indonesian contingent, which will compete in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, can get the best results. He believes that all athletes who compete in the 2023 SEA Games will make the nation proud.

I congratulate you on competing for the Indonesian contingent in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. I believe that the nation's best son/son who was sent for the 2023 SEA Games event will give their best. Make Indonesia proud," said Puan, Tuesday, May 2.

Today, as many as 884 people who are included in the Indonesian contingent have officially been released by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to leave for Cambodia. The 884 people consist of 599 athletes, 230 officials, and 55 medical personnel. Indonesian athletes will compete in 31 of the 36 sports competed in the SEA Games.

In the 31st SEA Games in 2021 in Vietnam, Indonesia managed to become the third winner with 241 medals, of which 69 are gold medals. Puan hopes that the Indonesian contingent can improve its achievements at the SEA Games this time.

"I hope that Indonesia can get many gold medals. Thankfully, the medals can be more than the previous SEA Games event and our position will increase. Don't let the third place win," said the first woman who served as Chair of the DPR RI.

Indonesia ranks second with the highest number of athletes and sports in the 2023 SEA Games. This is the belief that Indonesia will occupy the first podium in medals.

The opportunity to win first place is wide open. If you look at history, our athletes are no less good than other Southeast Asian countries. Not even a few of our athletes have been recognized by the world," said Puan.

Even so, the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture reminded all athletes who competed in the SEA Games to uphold sportsmanship. Puan also asked all Indonesian supporters for the same thing.

In sports competitions, losing and winning are common. Opportunities are high in sportsmanship when competing. The spirit of togetherness is also important because it will unite Southeast Asian countries," he said.

On the other hand, Puan reminded the Government to ensure all the needs of athletes who are competing in the largest sporting event in Southeast Asia. If someone is injured, the Government must provide treatment until it recovers according to the mandate of Law No. 11 of 2022 concerning Sport.

"Make sure the athlete's needs are met so that they can compete calmly," said Puan.

Furthermore, Bung Karno's grandson encouraged the Government to distribute sports facilities and infrastructure throughout the region. So, said Puan, people who like sports and aspire to become athletes can get proper facilities.

There are times when superior athletes emerge unexpectedly from the regions. There are also many who have advantages in the field of sports but because there is no opportunity to train because of the lack of infrastructure, their opportunity to become professional athletes has disappeared," said Puan.

This is still homework together. Because the state should be able to open the widest opportunity for outstanding people, including in the field of sports. One of them is the provision of facilities and infrastructure," added the chairman of the 2018 Asian Para Games Steering Committee.

In addition to sports facilities and infrastructure, Puan assessed that early childhood coaching for athletes must also be considered. With tiered coaching and carried out in a planned manner, she believes that Indonesia's sports achievements will be increasingly recognized in the world arena.

sports development must be carried out from an early age, tiered and sustainable. So that we can get good athlete seeds. This is important for improving Indonesia's sports achievements," concluded Puan.