The 16 athletes that will compete in the SEA Games, Hanoi, cannot cover the 40 racing events that will take placeJakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia will not fully participate in all of the 40 swimming sports branch events in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 12-23.
In a video statement from Central KONI on Tuesday, the swimming national team head coach Albert C. Susanto noted that by sending 16 swimmers, Indonesia can only participate in 35 events.
"The 16 athletes that will compete in the SEA Games, Hanoi, cannot cover the 40 racing events that will take place," he explained.
"Actually, we were optimistic that the number of athletes that we sent were above 20, so that we can win medals in the relay events," he remarked.
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From the start, the Indonesian Swimming Association Central Organizer (PB PRSI) did prepare 22 athletes for the 31st edition of the biggest sports event in Southeast Asia.
However, the swimming sports branch only received the quota of 16 athletes from the Youth and Sports Ministry.
Sutanto expects that in future, the nation can send more athletes.
"This can become a consideration because by reducing the athletes from 22 to 16, our strength declines significantly. Young athletes also end up not participating to gain experiences," he pointed out.
Speaking in connection with the target, Sutanto noted that Indonesia has the potential to secure six to seven gold medals.
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"However, the biggest potentials lie in four events, specifically the 50-meter and 200-meter men's backstroke, and 400-meter men's and women's medley," he remarked.
For the men's 50m backstroke, Indonesia will field I Gede Siman Sudartawa, who had bagged a gold medal in the previous SEA Games in the Philippines in 2019.
Meanwhile, for the 200m men's backstroke, Sutanto said he will get Farrel Armandio Tangkas to compete.
Lastly, Aflah Fadlan Prawira and Azzahra Permatahani will participate in the 400m men's and women's medley.
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Translator: Muhammad Ramdan, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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