"We target an eighth or tenth place in the 2018 Asian Games. We should gain 15 gold medals to achieve the target," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has targeted an eighth-place finish in the 2018 Asian Games, the biggest sporting event.

"We target an eighth or tenth place in the 2018 Asian Games. We should gain 15 gold medals to achieve the target," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani said here on Monday.

However, the senior minister hoped that Indonesian athletes could achieve more gold medals.

"Indonesia, as the host of the 2018 Asian Games, should present more achievements," the minister remarked.

She reiterated the Youth and Sports Ministry, a task force assigned to prepare the athletes (Satlak Prima) and the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), to continue to coordinate in preparing the athletes for the event.

The 2018 Asian Games will be held from Aug 18 to Sep 2 2018, in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra. The Games will have at least 40 sports events.

Prior to the implementation of the Asian Games, the trial event will be held in Oct and Nov 2017. The event will involve 10 to 15 participating countries and feature 10 Olympic sports.

The trial is expected to determine the readiness of the 2018 Asian Games in terms of infrastructure and athletes.

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi said that Indonesia will deploy athletes in 44 Olympic sports at the 2018 Asian Games.

President Joko Widodo earlier held a meeting to discuss the state of infrastructure readiness for the Asian Games XVII slated for 2018 in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra Province.

"I urged that all preparations must proceed on time, because it is a question of our pride and will underline Indonesias capability in hosting the games," Jokowi stated.

The meeting was held in the Presidential Office in Jakarta and was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Development of Human and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.

The president asked the ministers to focus on three main topics, namely infrastructure readiness, the competitiveness of Indonesian athletes, and transportation facilities between Jakarta and Palembang, the two cities that will be hosting the Asian Games XVII.

"I ask the ministers to describe the progress in the preparations being made for Asian Games," Jokowi informed.

As for the transportation facilities, the president directed the ministers to ensure such facilities are provided in provinces surrounding Jakarta, such as West Java and Banten. The sports event will be centered around these two areas.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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