"The Youth and Sports Ministry, the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI), have agreed (on the number), decided based on the review team," he said here on Monday.
He explained that the decision on the number of Indonesian athletes who will be sent for the 2023 SEA Games, which will be held from May 5–17, was discussed at length.
The athletes will compete in 31 out of the 36 sports branches contested at the games.
In the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam last year, Indonesia sent 499 athletes and ranked third overall.
Indonesia’s red and white contingent won 69 gold, 91 silver, and 81 bronze medals in the previous SEA Games.
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The first position was claimed by host Vietnam with 205 golds, 125 silvers, and 116 bronzes, and the second by Thailand with 92 golds, 103 silvers, and 136 bronzes.
"There is an increase of 100 athletes compared to the Vietnam SEA Games because the SEA Games Cambodia will compete in more sports,” Ariotedjo said.
Indonesia’s medal target this year is the same as that during Vietnam’s SEA Games, which was 60 golds.
The Sports Minister expressed the hope that the Indonesian contingent will exceed the target.
According to him, the 32nd SEA Games will have more group games, while more individual competitions were held at the Hanoi SEA Games.
He assured that the decision regarding the number of athletes in the contingent was discussed with the government and the relevant stakeholders.
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