TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia managed to take home an overall victory at the ASEAN Para Games 2014 in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Indonesia led the medal tally with 99 gold medals. "This shows that Indonesia is not a home-turf boy," said Youth and Sports Minister Roy Suryo. "We were able to become champions with efficient athletes selection."
He mentioned that Indonesia only sent 150 athletes, far below Thailand (323), Myanmar (269), Malaysia (232), and Vietnam (168). "The strategy proved to be effective," said Minister Roy. "We only sent athletes from those sports we were sure we could win in."
Roy suggested the government firmly apply a similar strategy in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, next September.
The Deputy Chief of the Sports Achievement division at the Ministry, Djoko Pekik Irianto, added that they will send prioritized athletes based on their Asian Games and SEA Games records. "If they had not made it in the SEA Games, it would not be easy for them to leave for the Asian Games," he said. Djoko said the ministry had set aside Rp250 billion for 1,500 athletes. However, only athletes from potential numbers that will get more special facilitry.
GADI MAKITAN