TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian esports athletes clinched yet another gold medal at the 2023 SEA Games after a controversial Valorant grand final in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Indonesian team shared the top spot with the Singapore team after the latter allegedly used a camera bug or spycam on the map Split in the eighth round.

Indonesia voiced protest and the match had to be postponed for about four hours. The Merah Putih squad decided to withdraw from the competition after lengthy discussions with the South East Asian Games Federation (SEAGAF), Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC), and Singapore.

However, discussions between the four parties continued to seek a solution to the problems and then it was decided that the gold medals would be awarded to the two finalists. Moreover, the bronze medal was also shared between the Philippines and Vietnam.

SEAGAF said that the joint medals had been through a mutual agreement. However, the Singapore team did not get on the podium during the medal presentation process.

“In this situation, SEAGAF and CAMSOC, having consulted with the two teams, decided to award a joint gold medal to them. The two teams agreed to receive a joint gold medal and participate in the award ceremony in accordance with existing regulations,” SEAGAF said in an official statement.

This gold achievement adds to the medal collection of the Indonesian esports team which has bagged two golds and one silver. The Garuda squad is ranked second in the esports standings.

Indonesia has the opportunity to count more medals from esports through the men's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG Mobile numbers, which are still competing until May 15, 2023. The Indonesian Esports Council (PB ESI) targeted four gold medals and the overall champion.

RANDY FAUZI FEBRIANSYAH

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