REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Muhammad Iqbal
Asian Games 18th will be held in Indonesia. According to the schedule, the biggest multi-sport event across Asia took place on August 18 to September2, 2018. The two cities had been designated as the execution places of the game, namely Jakarta and Palembang.
If counting down, the remaining time for Indonesia to prepare for just about three years. Preparing in this context not only simply of the infrastructure and means that the country will successfully became a good host. The successes of achieving the best performance in various sports have been duly had to accompany.
The achievement in the last SEA Games should become a reflection to all sport stakeholders for introspection. Just a reminder, Indonesia was only able to be in the fifth standings position of collecting medals thanks to a collection of 47 gold medals, 61 silver medals and 74 bronze medals. Far behind the grand champion Thailand, which stood at 95 gold medals, 83 silver medals and 69 bronze medals.
The achievement was even worse than the SEA Games 2013 in Myanmar. At that time, Indonesia was ranked fourth, which stood at 65 gold medals, 84 silver medals and 111 bronze medals. How about in the Asian Games? Indonesia's achievements in Incheon, South Korea in 2014, were also the same.
Four gold medals, five silver medals and 11 bronze medals were the achievement of Indonesia. It lagged very far from the grand champion China who collected 151 gold medals, 108 silver medals and 85 bronze medals. The remaining three-year period should we use to prepare as well as possible.
The hope, of course that the best performance could be achieved. So, what are the conditions that must be observed by all parties if want to accomplish the achievement in Jakarta and Palembang 2018? Opinion of Executive Board Chairman of the Indonesia Paddle Sports Association (PODSI) Achmad Sutjipto could be used as a reference.
Speaking after Indonesia rowing team became the grand champion of the category in the SEA Games 2015 Singapore some time ago, Achmad who had served as chairman of Mainstay Athlete Program (PAL) said that there were three fundamental aspects that must be done.
First, focus on the athletes. This is a necessity because the athletes who fought on the field. Sweat until blood for the sake of success.
If they are not focus, then do not expect more. Focus on athletes is not negotiable. Take the example of the tryout. If the minimum amount of tryout required is five times, then it must be met. Similarly with nutrition and intake for athletes. All must be met.
Secondly, driven by the coach. The coach must be able to encourage the athletes to embrace success. If they could not afford? The graft science system via a foreign coach could be the answer.
Expensive cost should not be the reason. Indonesian rowing team at the SEA Games 2015 in Singapore has proved armed with the presence of the coach Boudewijn Van Opstal. "What does it mean expensive than pride? Is the state going bankrupt? It isn’t right," said Achmad.
Third, the existence of performance enhancement team. A coach support team comprised of sport scientist, doctors, physiotherapist until the strength and conditioning coach. Because, none of the coaches were able to master all the problems.
"Let's create those three things to go to the Asian Games," Said Ahmad. From the theoretical side, Achmad’s explanation was very logical. However, the constraints in this country always repeated that is from the execution.
Hopefully, in this remaining time span could be used as well as possible. All could be realized if all stakeholders come together to make it happen. Achievement in the Asian Games is not a dream in the daylight.