Oktohari made the statement during the Olympic Day 2025 celebration in Jakarta, adding that the president had set an ambitious goal for Indonesia to win top honors at global competitions.
“We received good news directly from the president last night — Indonesia’s goal is to bring home every possible trophy from the upcoming world events,” Oktohari said.
He noted that a series of major international tournaments will take place from October to December, starting with the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships from October 19–25.
“The Asian Youth Games also begin on October 19 in Bahrain, followed by the Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh on November 7, and the SEA Games in Thailand from December 9 to 20,” he said.
Prabowo’s assurance of government backing comes as welcome news after funding shortages raised concerns about Indonesia’s participation in regional competitions.
Late last month, Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir revealed that the budget for Indonesia’s contingent at the SEA Games stood at just Rp10 billion (about US$610,000).
With that amount, Indonesia would only be able to send roughly 120 athletes to compete in Thailand, according to initial calculations.
Following the disclosure, Thohir met with Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa to discuss aligning the sports budget to ensure full participation in upcoming events.
Oktohari expressed optimism that with Prabowo’s direct support and stronger coordination among ministries, Indonesia could field its best athletes and perform competitively on the international stage.
“The president’s message is clear — the government stands firmly behind our athletes, and we must give our best to make Indonesia proud,” he said.
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Translator: Adipati, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
