Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo lauded the Indonesian athletes for delivering outstanding performance at the 2017 SEA Games XXIX being held in Malaysia.

"Congratulations to the 2017 SEA Games athletes who have made the name of Indonesia famous," he stated on his Twitter account @jokowi on Saturday.

Widodo said practice and hard work can definitely yield the best results.

At the Southeast Asian sports championship event, Indonesia was in the fifth position in the medal tally until Friday.

Some Indonesian athletes managed to win 102 medals comprising 22 gold, 35 silver, and 45 bronze.

Malaysia hosted the biennial sporting championship in 2017.

Widodo had earlier bid farewell to an Indonesian contingent to participate in the SEA Games in Malaysia and stated he always looked forward to listening to the national anthem of Indonesia Raya in the championship.

A total of 870 Indonesians are part of the Indonesian contingent for the SEA Games XXIX comprising 533 athletes, 170 trainers, 55 support staff, and 122 independent participants, and the figure surpasses the contingents target.

"When you fail, 250 million Indonesians will cry. As you rise up, 250 million Indonesians will cheer, as they feel the victory of every Indonesian athlete," he stated.

Reported by Bayu Prasetyo
EDITED BY INE
(M052/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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