President Jokowi's Target For The 2023 SEA Games Is Different From Calculations, Menpora: We Will Continue To Make References

Menpora Dito Ariotedjo (center). (Photo: Doc. Kemenpora)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is targeting more than 69 gold medals for the Indonesian contingent to compete in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. This number is far from what was conveyed by the Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Dito Ariotedjo previously.

On several occasions, Dito said, the government is targeting 60 gold and maintains the third position in the medal standings. Regarding this difference, the Minister of Youth and Sports asked President Jokowi to use it as a reference.

"Our target is in the 60 medals with the rankings in the top three, actually our calculations. So hopefully we will continue to use the motivation and targets of the President as a reference," said the Minister of Youth and Sports after the ceremony to release the 2023 SEA Games athletes at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday, April 2.

Dito said all sports that Indonesia participated in at the SEA Games have the potential to gain gold. One of the focuses is the team sport.

It is this sport that will replace the potential gold of Indonesian athletes from sports that are not competed in the Cambodian SEA Games.

"The sports are not competed to be replaced into team sports, but we are also optimistic because the readiness of the teamed sports is all maximal and Alhamdulillah we have seen that football, cricket and hockey have won, won significantly, so God willing, we will win gold too," said Dito, as quoted from Antara.

Previously, President Jokowi targeted the Indonesian contingent to win more than 69 gold medals and rank 1 or 2 in the 32nd Cambodia 2023 SEA Games. The Indonesian contingent is targeted to achieve better achievements than the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam,

"I ask for the gold above 69, the ranking is also above three. The choice is only two, ranked first or second," said Jokowi in the courtyard of the State Palace.