Jakarta, ThedailyID — Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir is waiting for one more gold medal to complete Indonesia’s target at the 2026 Asian Games.
Indonesia has won three gold medals so far. The country set a target of four gold medals at the Asian Games, the largest multi-sport event in Asia.
“Yes, the target is four gold medals. I have made that statement publicly,” Erick said at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on Tuesday, September 29.
Erick praised the leaders of Indonesia’s sports federations and the athletes competing at the event. He gave particular credit to badminton, which has exceeded its original target.
Indonesia initially targeted one badminton gold medal. The men’s team won gold before men’s doubles pair Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin claimed another top podium finish.
“Initially, it was one gold. Now, it is two golds,” Erick said about Indonesia’s badminton performance.
Weightlifting also contributed a gold medal. Rahmat Erwin Abdullah won the men’s 75-kilogram category.
Indonesia now needs one more gold medal to reach its official target.
“We are still short of one gold. We are waiting for climbing. There is Ms. Yeni [Wahid, chairwoman of the Indonesian Sport Climbing Federation], and perhaps some other surprises that we are still waiting for,” Erick said.
He also encouraged the Indonesian contingent to stay focused on securing the fourth gold before pursuing a higher medal tally.
“Hopefully, we can focus on getting the fourth gold. Then we can aim for the fifth gold and more,” he said.
Erick said the government will conduct a comprehensive evaluation after the Asian Games. Indonesia will then prepare for future international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
“After the Asian Games, we will map out what did not meet expectations,” Erick said.
He added that sports federations must take responsibility for the targets they set before major competitions.
“If they promised silver and then won bronze, that is understandable. But if they promised gold and ended up winning nothing, that is something we need to look into,” Erick said.
He stressed that sports federations must maintain discipline and accountability when setting targets for international competitions.
