Indonesia Ranked 15th in Asian Games 2010

GUANGZHOU, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia finished 15th in medal collection in the current 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou winning four golds, nine silvers and 13 bronzes.  On the final day of the event on Saturday, Triyaningsih and Yahuza failed to increase the country’s medal collection from the 42.2 kilometer marathon race.

The bronze medals from karate fighter Donny Darmawan and sepaktakraw team were the last medals collected by the Indonesian contingent from the Games. China meanwhile is assured to retain its general champion title winning 199 gold, 119 silver and 98 bronze medals, followed by South Korea with 76 gold, 65 silver and 91 bronze medals. Japan finished third with 48 gold, 74 silver and 94 bronze medals.

The more than two-week event demonstrated significant sports development in East Asia leaving other Asian regions far behind.  Iran with 20 gold, 14 silver and 25 bronze medals represented the power of West Asia while Khazakstan which is ranked fifth represents the power of former Soviet Union members while India with 14 gold, 17 silver and 33 bronze medals represent the power of South Asia.

Thailand which is ranked ninth meanwhile represents the srongest from Southeast Asia, followed by Malaysia with nine gold, 18 silver and 14 bronze medals. "The Asian sports achievement is dominated by East Asia namely China, Japan, Korea and China Taipei. Other Asian regions have been left behind and have to work harder including Indonesia that has to prepare regeneration," Indonesia’s sports minister Andi Mallarangeng said.

He said Indonesia’s achievment rose from the 19th rank with two gold, three silver and 15 bronze medals in the last 15th Asian Games in 2006 to 15th rank with four gold, nine silver and 13 bronze medals in the 16th Asian Games this year. The dragon boat teams saved Indonesia’s reputation contributing three of the four gold medals for the country. The other gold for the country came from the badminton men’s doubles.

"We appreciate the dragon teams for their best achievement in teh 16th Asian Games. Although it is a new event Indonesia was able to maximally exploit it," Andi said. Indonesia collected its medals from sepaktakraw, weight lifting, karate, taekwondo, billiard, bowling, cycling, dragon boat, badminton and wushu.

"Eight branches were expected to contribute medals but in realization 11 branches were able to contribute medals," the general chairman of the Indonesian National Sports Committee/ Indonesia Sports Committee, Rita Subowo, said.

Regarding some quarters who undermined the gold medals from the dragon boat because the event is not competed in the Olympic Games and probably in the next Asian Games in South Korea in 2014, Andi said that they could not treat the achievement half-heartedly.

"The fact is that event is official and therefore we have to be grateful over the success in the event. On the other hand however we also have to conduct evaluation with regard to targets that were not met," he said.

Andi expressed his appreciation to the fight that the athletes had demonstrated in the event. "They have fought hard for the country and nation. They are heroes. For those who could not win medals must not be discouraged because they would still be trusted to become the main power for the next event namely the 16th Southeast Asia Games in 2011 in Indonesia," he said.