REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA— Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir affirmed the importance of changing the way people view the profession of athletes, especially female and youth athletes. According to him, the brilliant achievements of young Indonesian athletes at SEA Games 2025 prove that sport can be a promising future path.
Erick highlighted the dominance of female and youth athletes in Indonesia's medal winning at the 2025 SEA Games. In fact, one of the female athletes was able to donate five gold and two silver medals to the Red and White.
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“We have to see how the role of women in sport is extraordinary. Yesterday one of the most gold contributors was Sister Martina Ayu Pratiwi, a triathlon athlete who was just 21 years old, with five gold medals,” Erick said in Jakarta.
In addition to triathlon, the contribution of female athletes is also seen in the sports branch of tennis. Daughters' doubles pair Aldila Sutjiadi and Janice Tjen Chen also donated gold medals for the Indonesian contingent.
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“There are a lot of gold medals donated by female athletes. This shows that women's sport in Indonesia has great potential and must continue to be encouraged,” Erick said.
He reiterated that the Ministry of Youth and Sports is committed to strengthening the coaching of women, children, and youth athletes on an ongoing basis. One of the strategic steps being prepared is the construction of a Sports Academy, as directed by President Prabowo Subianto.
“This sports academy will be a training center for young children from an early age, from junior high to high school,” Erick said.
According to him, the government is also preparing future guarantees for accomplished athletes. The graduates of the sports academy will later obtain educational scholarships through the Educational Fund Management Institution (LPDP), with a quota of nearly 100 athletes having been prepared.
“That is, they are not only educated to be athletes, but their futures are also educationally assured,” Erick said.
He added that the bonuses that President Prabowo gave to gold medalist athletes, including a bonus of IDR 1 billion, were a clear proof of the country's partiality to young athletes.
“Many of our Gen Z athletes who are still 17-18 years old, especially in swimming, have already received a bonus of IDR 1 billion. That could be their future savings,” Erick said.
Because of this, he insists, the stigma that athletes are synonymous with poverty must be abolished. “The perception of parents that athletes are poor has to change. Athletes can also get amazing results, no matter how the funds are managed,” Erick said.
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