We are going first because we want to adapt to the weather.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (ANTARA) - Indonesian athletes from the athletics sports branch, specifically long distance athletes, left for Cambodia early to acclimatize ahead of the SEA Games XXXII/2023.

Three athletes — Agus Prayogo, Odekta Elvina Naibaho, and Hendro Yap — left for Siem Reap, Cambodia, the venue for the SEA Games, from Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Tuesday.

Naibaho told ANTARA here on Wednesday that they deliberately did not follow the schedule set by the National Olympics Committee (NOC).

“We are going first because we want to adapt to the weather," she explained.

"According to the schedule from the NOC, we were supposed to depart on May 4 (2023) while the race itself is on May 6, which is too narrow (a time window) for a long distance run," she said.

At the 2023 SEA Games, Naibaho will participate in two events. She will first participate in the women's marathon event in Siem Reap. Then, on Friday, she will take part in the women's 10,000m event at Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh.

Meanwhile, Prayogo will compete in the marathon and the men's 10,000m events. Yap will participate in the men's 20km walk.

The three athletes are aiming to win gold in the 32nd edition of the biggest sports event in Southeast Asia.

Naibaho will be Indonesia's ace for the 2023 SEA Games. During the previous edition, XXXI/2021, held in Vietnam last year, she bagged a gold medal in the women's marathon after setting a time record of 2 hours 55.28 minutes.

Meanwhile, Prayogo secured a silver medal in the men's marathon and Yap settled for second place. The two are optimistic that they can improve their achievement this year by bringing home a gold medal.

"I must believe. I have been preparing for a long time. I believe that I can improve my achievement in Cambodia," Prayogo said.

"I expect that our mission in raising the Red and White flag on the highest pole will be realized without significant hurdles" he added.

Related news: Jakarta governor hands cash bonuses to SEA Games athletes
Related news: Indonesians in Cambodia supportive of national teams in SEA Games







Translator: Muhammad Ramdan, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023