Indonesia absorbs Independence Day spirit to bring home medal

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indonesian 72nd Independence Day celebration yesterday will inspire the republic’s squad to bring home medals from the 29th Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 2017 (KL2017).

Contingent’s head Muhammad Azis Syamsuddin hoped his country’s team would put up their best performance in every event to bring home a ‘present’ based on the support rendered by the whole community to the athletes competing in the 29th edition of the games.

“(In conjunction with) the 72nd Independence Day, hopefully the SEA Games will give the best result to the Indonesians.. .(Especially) when the national anthem of the country is being played when Indonesia wins,” he said through WhatsApp to Bernama.

In addition, Muhammad Azis, who leads the 948-member Indonesian contingent, also placed high hopes that the biennial games hosted by Malaysia for the sixth time, would be the best momentum to develop further the bilateral relations that had long existed between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian futsal squad would use the country’s national day to inspire the team to bring home a medal at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (KL2017).

Its women’s futsal chief coach, Andre Picessa Pratama said although preparations were made within a period of only three months, all the players promised to give their “1,000 per cent” commitment for the event.

He said if his wards could win a medal for Indonesia, it would be the most meaningful surprise as the team had never won any medal since competing in the biennial games.

“Every team certainly aims to win the gold medal including our team, but because of the stiff competition, we will certainly try our best to bring back whatever medal.

“It will certainly be a meaningful history in bringing glory to Indonesia in conjunction with the Independence Day celebration,” he said when met by Bernama after the prematch meeting for the event here yesterday.

The Indonesian futsal squad will face Malaysia in their first match in the current edition on August 20.

Head coach for the men’s futsal squad, Yori van der Torren said all his players will make the independence celebration as an additional motivation when beginning the SEA Games campaign by facing defending champion, Thailand on Sunday.

Besides Indonesia and Thailand, three other nations participating in the event are host Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Futsal events for KL2017 will be held at the Panasonic Sports Complex, Shah Alam, beginning today until August 27. – Bernama