The instruction was directed to Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir during a limited cabinet meeting on Tuesday, held shortly after President Prabowo returned from his official visit to Egypt.
"President Prabowo wants us to establish an academy or a specialized training facility for certain sports that we hope can qualify for the Olympics—and, of course, with the ultimate goal of winning medals," State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said after the meeting, which was held at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta.
Hadi added that this initiative is expected to serve as a major turning point for improving the national sports system, enabling Indonesia to become more competitive on the global stage.
According to him, the proposal was partly driven by the recent evaluation of the Indonesian national football team's performance during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The President reportedly called for a comprehensive review of the nation's sports development strategy.
"The President specifically stated that we must conduct a thorough evaluation. In fact, the discussion went beyond just football," Hadi stated.
Indonesia's hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dashed after the national team was eliminated during the Asian qualifying rounds.
Despite a promising start, the Garuda squad struggled to maintain consistency in crucial matches and fell to regional heavyweights such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
The early exit was a blow to the country's passionate football fans, who had placed high hopes on the country's young talents like Marselino Ferdinan, Rafael Struick, and Justin Hubner.
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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Kuntum Khaira
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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