Jakarta (ANTARA) - Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo has said he believes that all Indonesian athletes are ready to compete against athletes from other countries at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"By seeing the preparation, our athletes are ready to compete," he said in a voice recording received here on Saturday.
According to Ariotedjo, one sport in which good preparations have been made is badminton, in which a tournament simulation similar to the Olympics was held.
The minister said that the effort was meant to shape the mindset of athletes to help them adapt easily and quickly when competing in the Paris Olympics.
"Hopefully, it can give motivation to all athletes who will leave for Paris and they can return proudly with gold medals," he added.
He informed that the government's expectation from the athletes was conveyed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) when he released the Indonesian Olympics contingent on Wednesday.
The President, he said, fully understands that the Olympics is very competitive because it is the largest sports competition in the world.
"From his words, it is very clear (the President) expects the Red and White Flag to be raised and the national anthem to be played on the Olympic podium, meaning (the athletes) have won a gold medal," he said.
"So, we will definitely focus on this to achieve the expectations of the public and the President," he added.
Twenty-nine Indonesian athletes will participate in the upcoming Olympics — the highest in the last 20 years and the second-highest after the 2004 Athens Olympics, which was joined by 38 national athletes.
The 29 athletes who have qualified for the 2024 Olympics are:
1. Arif Dwi Pangestu (Archery)
2. Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi (Rock Climbing)
3. Diananda Choirunisa (Archery)
4. Rifda Irfanaluthfi (Artistic Gymnastics)
5. Rahmad Adi Mulyono (Rock Climbing)
6. Fathur Gustafian (Shooting)
7. Rio Waida (Wave Surfing)
8. Eko Yuli Irawan (Weightlifting)
9. Rizki Juniansyah (Weightlifting)
10. Memo (Rowing)
11. Bernard Benyamin van Aert (Cycling)
12. Jonatan Christie (Badminton)
13. Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (Badminton)
14. Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (Badminton)
15. Fajar Alfian (Badminton)
16. Muhammad Rian Ardianto (Badminton)
17. Apriyani Rahayu (Badminton)
18. Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Badminton)
19. Rinov Rivaldy (Badminton)
20. Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (Badminton)
21. Nurul Akmal (Weightlifting)
22. Raji'ah Sallsabilah (Rock Climbing)
23. Veddriq Leonardo (Rock Climbing)
24. Maryam March Maharani (Judo)
25. Lalu Muhammad Zohri (Athletics)
26. Rezza Octavia (Archery)
27. Syifa Nur Afifah Kamal (Archery)
28. Joe Aditya W. Kurniawan (Swimming)
29. Azzahra Permatahani (Swimming)
