Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 30, 2026 at 01:59 AM UTC

President calls athlete development, sports matter of national honor

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Aditya Ramadhan, Yashinta Difa

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized that sports are a matter of national honor, calling on all stakeholders to strengthen athlete development so that Indonesia can become a winning nation on the international stage.

"Sports are a matter of national honor. A strong nation reflects the strength of its people. Strong people are spirited. A spirited populace leads to a spirited nation, a nation that cannot be conquered,” Prabowo said at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Thursday (Oct 29).

“We aspire to be a respected nation,” the President said during a ceremony honoring medalists from the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and 5th Asian Para Games.

Praising the contingent as the nation’s finest sons and daughters, Prabowo expressed profound gratitude for their dedication and efforts in defending Indonesia's standing across continental sport competitions.

"To the nation’s finest sons and daughters, you have fought hard to defend the honor of this nation, and for that, I express my gratitude," he stated.

While celebrating the contingent's achievements, where Indonesia secured 39 medals at the Asian Games (5 gold, 11 silver, 23 bronze), and 73 medals at the Asian Para Games (15 gold, 21 silver, 37 bronze), surpassing their respective targets, Prabowo cautioned against complacency.

"We must not be easily satisfied; we are the fourth most populous nation in the world, and we must work even harder," Prabowo said.

To secure future success, the President instructed Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir to build a systematic, long-term athletic training pipeline beginning at the elementary school level.

He directed that every regency establish a "flagship" school, while sub-district educational institutions should be upgraded with proper sports facilities.

Addressing the financial rewards distributed during the event, Prabowo noted that government bonuses are far more than routine transactional prizes.

"These bonuses are not just gifts; they are a form of recognition and appreciation for your hard work," he said, describing the incentives as the state's deep gratitude to athletes.

Prabowo concluded by calling on sports administrators and leaders to forge tighter collaborations and refine future strategies, leaving no doubt about the administration's ultimate ambition.

"Thank you for your dedication, and thank you for bringing honor to Indonesia," Prabowo said.

"Keep striving, keep achieving... Indonesia must become a winning nation,” he concluded.

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