On Wednesday (29/8), of the total 16 Pencak Silat events and classes contested, the Indonesian team succeeded in seizing 14 gold medals as well as one bronze medal.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo congratulated Prabowo Subianto for Indonesia’s success in pencak silat at the 2018 Asian Games.
“Congratulations to my best friend, Pak Prabowo Subianto, chairman of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI), who heads Pencak silat and has been successful in the Asian Games,” said Jokowi after watching the final at the Pencak Silat Hall, TMII, East Jakarta on Wednesday.
The president then uploaded a video on his Instagram with cuts of Pencak Silat events and then self-vlog with athlete Wewey, who won Indonesia last gold medal for the game, and also Prabowo Subianto on his Instagram.
“All for Indonesia,” both said with a big smile on their face.
Photos and videos of them being friendly caused netizens to show their positive uproars. They thanked pesilat Hanifan Yudani Kusumah for the precious moment. The Pencak Silat athlete hugged both presidential candidates after defeating Vietnam’s Thai Linh Nguyen 3-2 in the men’s class 55-60kg.
Since the last presidential election in 2014, Indonesia netizens have been caught in never-ending bickering to slandering as they show support for each of their favourite candidates. Many have predicted that until the election next year, netizens in social media will go up in flames one more time, but it seems 2018 Asian Games have proven Indonesia's motto of Unity in Diversity is still going strong despite everything that had happened.
Jokowi was present in the final round of pencak silat along with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Indonesia’s fifth president Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Chairman of the Indonesian contingent in the 2018 Asian Games and Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Syafruddin and Coordinating Human and Culture Development Minister Puan Maharani also attended the event.
According to the President, the success in pencak silat was inseparable from the prayers and support of the Indonesian people. “We’ve won 30 gold medals to date, and all are devoted to the country.”
About the granting of bonuses for athletes, the President expressed the commitment to realize the plan soon in line with relevant procedures.
“If possible, the bonuses should be given before their sweat dries up,” he said, alluding to Prabowo as he has to spend the largest bonus fund on pesilat.
Source: asiangames2018.id