In ASEAN, (Indonesian) men's gymnastics still ranked third, so we have to fight more
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Joseph Judah, who will compete in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia in men's gymnastics, remains resolute to bring home medals.

"At least a medal. Usually, the men's branches in (gymnastics) are underestimated. I want to prove that Indonesian gymnastics is great, so I want to win a medal to prove it," Judah remarked, as cited from the Youth and Sports Ministry's website here on Friday.

According to Judah, gymnastics athletes from the Philippines and Vietnam will be tough to compete against in the 2023 SEA Games.

"In ASEAN, (Indonesian) men's gymnastics still ranked third, so we have to fight more," he stated.

He also expressed optimism to prove that men's gymnastics can be better than women's gymnastics that has clocked more achievements than the former.

"I have ambitions to bring men's gymnastics to achieve more than women's," Judah remarked while adding that he is looking forward to surpassing achievements of his father, Jonathan Sianturi, by qualifying for the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Chief de Mission (CdM) of the Indonesian contingent for the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, Lexyndo Hakim, said he was looking forward to seeing Judah's performance.

"The optimism must increase. With great motivation, hopefully, the results will be maximum," Hakim stated.

The Indonesian contingent's chances of winning medals are slimmer since only men's gymnastics and not women's gymnastics will be contested in the Cambodian SEA Games in May.

Furthermore, the Indonesian Gymnastics Federation (PERSANI) will send two of its best athletes -- Joseph Judah and Abiyurafi -- who are currently being trained by a Japanese coach before leaving for Cambodia.

"The women's gymnastics branch will not be contested in Cambodia, thereby reducing our potential to get the medal, but PERSANI's preparation is quite extraordinary. Hopefully, it would result in maximum achievements by the athletes," Deputy II of CdM Ibnu Riza stated.

Related news: Esports team targeting 4 golds at Cambodia SEA Games
Related news: CdM optimistic about Indonesian athletes' readiness for 2023 SEA Games
Related news: Indonesian wushu team to train in China before SEA Games

Translator: Arindra M, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2023