After pocketing 58 gold medals, Indonesia stays at second position, while the Philippines contingent is perched at the top of the medal tally.
Indonesian athletes just require to win two more gold medals to realize the target set by President Joko Widodo while seeing them off for this multi-sport event on Nov 27, 2019.
Indonesia's second position was solidified by its athletes' success in grabbing five more golds from Sunday morning until 1 p.m. local time. All gold medals were won in the rowing race.
On Dec 6, Indonesia's top runner Agus Prayogo clinched a gold medal in the men's marathon event, thereby becoming the first gold medalist in athletics for the national team.
Prayogo won the race by clocking a time of 2:26:48 after running for 42 kilometers at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium. When he nearly reached the finish line, Prayogo unfurled Indonesia's national red and white flag over his shoulders.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has appealed to the athletes to perform to the best of their abilities to ensure Indonesia stands second in the medal tally of the multi-sport event that the Philippines is hosting from November 30 to December 11.
"I want us to emerge as the second runner-up at the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines," President Jokowi noted in his speech delivered at a ceremony to see off the Indonesian contingent at the Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, on Nov 27.
Jokowi noted that the Indonesian athletes were expected to boost their achievements in various international multi-sport events while acceding to the fact that it was no easy task.
However, with a robust fighting spirit and the support of 260 million Indonesians, the athletes should do their best to grab as many medals as possible at the Philippines 30th SEA Games, he emphasized.
The Indonesian athletes, who lately won 38 gold medals at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, will compete against those from the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Timor Leste. Related news: Jokowi wants Indonesia to emerge as top two at Philippines SEA Games
Related news: Government offers Rp200-million bonus for each SEA Games gold medalist
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Dadan R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
