President Prabowo Subianto Honors SEA Games Heroes at State Palace
The 33rd SEA Games in Thailand is over, but the pride of Indonesian athletes remains strong as they received a direct appreciation from President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace, Jakarta on Thursday (1/8).
The 33rd SEA Games in Thailand has concluded, but the pride of Indonesian athletes remains strong as they received a direct recognition from President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace, Jakarta Thursday (1/8).
Behind every medal lies a story of struggle and hope that now gives them the strength to move forward.
Triathlete Martina Ayu Pratiwi found today’s moment deeply special and personal. The winner of seven medals—five gold and two silver—she never expected to stand as one of the athlete representatives receiving an award directly from the President.
“Alhamdulilah, I’m so happy to be the representative receiving the award directly from Pak Prabowo. It’s my birthday today so it feels even more special,” she said.
Martina also plans to use the recognition to support her sporting achievements and invest in her future.
Beyond Martina, another story of perseverance comes from Dewi Laila, a shooting athlete who never expected to win a gold medal while pregnant.
“I didn’t expect it because I never thought I would win gold. During the competition, I just felt I nothing to lose,” she said.
Looking ahead, Dewi hopes to once again represent Indonesia at higher-level events.
She said: “My hope for the future is to improve my achievements at the Asian Games and the Olympics, the highest level of competition. After giving birth, I’ll rest for a while. If later I am given the opportunity to compete at the Asian Games, so I’ll go,” she said.
Meanwhile, Indonesian weightlifter Rizki Juniansyah, could not hold back his tears as he received the award from the President.
A gold medalist and world record-breaker, he regarded the President’s recognition as a great honor, not only for himself but also for his fellow athletes.
“Going forward, this will be a challenge for me and a tough road to walk. From now on, I bear the responsibility of upholding the name of Indonesia, the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), and the honor of the President and his cabinet, and the sport of weightlifting itself. This is the struggle that I have to face in the days ahead,” said Rizki.
Although they complete in different sports, all three agree that true achievement is built on consistency, discipline, and sacrifice. The President’s recognition today not only honors their eforts at the SEA Games, but also marks the beginning of a new chapter in their pursuit of success at higher-level competitions. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (JAS/EP)
