President Jokowi officially releases Indonesia’s contingent for 32nd SEA Games

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially released 599 athletes, 230 coaches and officials, and support teams forming the Indonesian contingent for the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia to be held on May 5-17, 2023.

“I send off our contingent for the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. We send 599 athletes, who will participate in 31 sports,” he stated during the send-off ceremony at the Merdeka Palace ground here, Tuesday.

Officials that attended the send-off ceremony were Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy, Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo, and leaders of sports federations.

Jokowi called on the Indonesian contingent for the current SEA Games edition to clinch more gold medals and achieve a higher rank than that in the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam in 2021.

“At the (31st) SEA Games in Vietnam, we bagged 69 gold medals and achieved third place in the ranking. We must achieve more now. I ask you to bag more than 69 gold medals, and you have only two choices in the ranking achievement, either first or second,” he affirmed.

Before the athletes’ send-off ceremony on Tuesday, several athletes, primarily athletes competing before the SEA Games opening ceremony on Friday (May 5), departed for Cambodia earlier.

Indonesia’s football, cricket, indoor hockey, and cycling teams for the 32nd SEA Games departed before the opening ceremony in phases starting from April 25 to April 29. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s triathlon team departed on Monday (May 1).

Indonesia’s 599 athletes for the 32nd SEA Games, comprising 379 male and 220 female athletes, will compete in 31 out of the 36 sports at the ASEAN-wide multi-sport event.