Erick Thohir warns of 'golden illusion' ahead of SEA Games

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir has asked the country's sports officials to be more honest and realistic in setting targets for the 2025 SEA Games, which will take place in December in Thailand.

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir wants the country's sports delegation to be more realistic with its ambitions at the 2025 SEA Games.

The Indonesian Sports Commission (KOI) had initially set a target of 120 gold medals, but the Youth and Sports Ministry said the number was far beyond the team’s current capacity. “We have to know where we are. We cannot promise things we cannot keep. The important thing is honesty and transparency,” Erick Thohir stressed at a press conference in Jakarta.

At the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, Indonesia won 87 gold medals, ranking third overall, behind only Vietnam (136 gold medals) and Thailand (108 gold medals). Although it was the most successful Games for Indonesian sports in seven years, the gap with the two big rivals is still significant. Therefore, setting a target 30% higher than the previous achievement is considered "unrealistic", especially when many of Indonesia's key sports such as athletics, swimming and badminton are in the transition period.

Erick also affirmed that he wants to turn the 2025 SEA Games into a preparation step for the 2026 Asian Games, instead of a short-term achievement race. “If we build success on a practical foundation, the medals will come naturally,” he said.

In the context of many countries in the region rejuvenating their forces, Erick Thohir's reminder is seen as a timely wake-up call that sporting success cannot be measured by gold medals alone, but by honesty and long-term vision.

Source: https://znews.vn/erick-thohir-canh-bao-ao-tuong-vang-truoc-them-sea-games-post1601795.html