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Indonesia faces challenge as host for 2018 Asian Games

Soaring: Indonesia’s Nofrizal (center) flies through the air as he returns a ball to Laos’ Noum Souvannalisth during their men’s doubles preliminary Group B sepaktakraw match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea

Musthofid (The Jakarta Post)
Incheon, South Korea
Sun, September 21, 2014

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Indonesia faces challenge as host for 2018 Asian Games Soaring: Indonesia’s Nofrizal (center) flies through the air as he returns a ball to Laos’ Noum Souvannalisth during their men’s doubles preliminary Group B sepaktakraw match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. (AP/Dita Alangkara) (center) flies through the air as he returns a ball to Laos’ Noum Souvannalisth during their men’s doubles preliminary Group B sepaktakraw match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. (AP/Dita Alangkara)

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span class="inline inline-none">Soaring: Indonesia'€™s Nofrizal (center) flies through the air as he returns a ball to Laos'€™ Noum Souvannalisth during their men'€™s doubles preliminary Group B sepaktakraw match at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. (AP/Dita Alangkara)

Indonesia is looking ahead to a sporting challenge after being confirmed as host of the 2018 Asian Games on Saturday, more than half a century after it first held the Asian multi-sport event in 1962.

The much-anticipated appointment, bestowed by the Olympic Council of Asia'€™s (OCA) General Assembly, was met with positive news from the current Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, with Indonesia'€™s wushu and weightlifting teams each winning a silver medal.

'€œThis appointment is about pride as well as being a challenge for Indonesia,'€ Rita Subowo, the president of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), told The Jakarta Post.

'€œThe Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore also expressed their interest. Even India was willing to get back in the bidding. But during the executive meeting, the participants unanimously gave their consent to Indonesia. The OCA urged a unanimous decision to avoid a long bidding process,'€ she said.

Indonesia replaced Vietnam, which was selected in the 2012 vote but decided in April this year to withdraw due to funding issues.

Rita said the official name would be the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games with Palembang, South Sumatra, being the co-host for some sports.

The appointment was marked with the signing of a document between Rita, OCA president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, Deputy Jakarta Governor Basuki '€œAhok'€ Tjahaja Purnama and South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin.

'€œWe will establish the organizing committee by March next year,'€ she said. '€œWe'€™re up against the clock. We will carry out some upgrades and will not build new venues, except for a velodrome. We have to build a new velodrome,'€ she said.

As host, Indonesia will expect to emulate its 1962 achievement when it finished in second place behind Japan in the medal tally.

'€œWe will encourage as many athletes as possible to train abroad,'€ Rita said.

Meanwhile, in the current event, the country'€™s wushu team jumped for joy at the Ganghwa Dolmens Gymnasium when Juwita Niza Wasni won silver. Juwita scored 19.19 in the Nando/Nanquan division to finish second behind Cheau Xuen Tai of Malaysia.

The second silver for Indonesia came in the Moonlight Festival Garden, courtesy of lifter Sri Wahyuni Agustiani. Her total lifted weight of 187 kilograms was equal to Mahliyo Togoeva of Uzbekistan, but the Indonesian deserved the silver by virtue of weighing less than her opponent. The gold went to Margarita Yelisseyeva of Kazakhstan.

In the beach volleyball, Ade Candra Rachmawan and Koko Prasetyo Darkuncoro registered their first win in Group G.

However, Indonesia'€™s quest for gold in the equestrian event faltered after the dressage team finished fourth, while the women'€™s badminton team suffered a 3-0 loss in the quarterfinals at the Gyeyang Gymnasium.

The opening day of the games saw host South Korea top the medal table with five gold medals. Reigning champion China, in second place, also collected five gold medals but fewer silver medals. Mongolia took third place with two gold medals.

With two silver medals, Indonesia is in 10th place among 45 participating nations.

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