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View all search resultsBittersweet Games
Since 1995, Indonesia’s best performance at the SEA Games when not hosting had been a top-three finish, making this year’s result a notable benchmark in the country’s recent sporting trajectory.
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Bullseye glory:Indonesian shooters Muhammad Iqbal Raia Prabowo (right) and Arista Perdana Putri Darmoyo salute the national flag during a medal giving ceremony on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, after winning the gold medal during the mixed team 10-meter air rifle final at the 2025 SEA Games at the Photharam Shooting Range in Bangkok. They defeated Vietnam’s mixed team of Thu Vinh Trinh and Quang Huy Pham by a score of 17-9. (Antara/Nova Wahyudi)
I
ndonesia delivered one of its strongest performances away from home at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand, finishing second overall behind the host nation with 91 gold medals, 111 silvers and 131 bronzes.
It was an emphatic return to form in a competition that has long shaped the country’s sporting ambitions. Host Thailand topped the table with a commanding medal collection of 233 golds, 154 silvers and 112 bronzes.
The achievement, however, came against a backdrop of regional conflict that cast a shadow over the 11-day biennial multisport event, which ended on Saturday. Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia undermined the oft-cited “spirit of ASEAN,” standing in stark contrast to the Games’ theme, “We Are One.” The situation escalated to the point that Cambodia withdrew from the competition, citing safety concerns.
Cambodia initially pulled out of several sports before fully withdrawing its delegation on Dec. 10, the second day of the Games, underscoring the seriousness of the conflict and its impact on a flagship regional sporting event.
Against that backdrop, Indonesia’s performance stood out. The team surpassed its 80-gold target and reached the 90-gold mark, signaling a positive trend after more than a decade of relatively subdued showings.
Several sports showcased Indonesia's clear superiority. Track and field topped the gold haul with nine titles, followed by wushu with five. Archery (recurve), dragon boat, extreme sport climbing, judo, pencak silat and shooting each collected four golds.
In track and field, Indonesian athletes claimed gold in major events including the women’s 100-meter hurdles through Aulia Dina, the men’s and women’s marathons (Robi Syianturi and Odekta Elvina Naibaho) and the men’s and women’s 20-kilometer walk (Hendro and Violine Intan Puspita).
