Eko Yuli, who is already 32 years old, ensures that he will continue to compete and seeks to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics if his physical condition allows.
By
AGUNG SETYAHADI FROM TOKYO, JAPAN
·4 minutes read
AFP/VINCENZO PINTO
Indonesian lifter Eko Yuli Irawan lifts weights in the men\'s 61 kilogram class weightlifting competition, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, at the Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, on Sunday (25/7/2021). He won a silver medal in that race.
TOKYO, SUNDAY — Eko Yuli Irawan has made peace with his curiosity about the Olympic gold medal. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which was his fourth Games, Eko won silver again. However, he will not retire yet and is aiming for the Paris 2024 Olympics while guiding his junior lifters to become reliable Olympians.
Kompas reporter, Agung Setyahadi, from Tokyo, Sunday (25/7/2021), reported that Eko was up against Chinese lifter Li Fabin for the gold medal. When he was 4 kilograms behind Li Fabin in the snatch, Eko first secured the silver medal before making a gamble by setting a clean and jerk target of 177 kg. However, Eko failed and Li Fabin took home the gold medal in the 61 kg class.
Li Fabin’s gold medal was one of China’s three gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Games on Sunday. The other two were won by Chen Lijun in the men’s 67 kg weightlifting class and the duo Shi Tingmao-Wang Han in the women’s 3-meter synchronized jump. China leads the temporary standings with six gold medals, one silver and four bronzes, followed by Japan in second place with five golds and one silver.
“Failing, I have not yet reached my goal. What is certain is that we are highly optimistic, only that everyone must know what preparations were like. In fact, approaching [the Games], PPKM [public activity restrictions] were tightened again and right before departing I tested positive [for COVID-19] and underwent quarantine,” said Eko Yuli in the mixed zone of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic weightlifting arena, Tokyo International Forum, Sunday (25/7).
According to Eko, he maximized the opportunities that were there and was able to take home the silver medal despite his ambitions to win gold. “We strived for it, but perhaps it isn’t our time yet despite trying our best to go after gold,” said Eko.
Eko won silver again at the Tokyo 2020 Games as he did in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.
Eko has not been able to win a gold Olympic medal after winning bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and London 2012 Games. Eko won silver again at the Tokyo 2020 Games as he did in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.
Eko came in second with a total lift of 302 kg (137 kg snap, 165 kg clean and jerk). Eko could not beat Li Fabin who won gold with a total lift of 312 kg (141 kg snap, 172 kg clean and jerk). Li Fabin’s total lift and clean and jerk set an Olympic record in the 61 kg class. The bronze was won by Son Igor, a lifter from Kazakhstan, with a total lift of 294 kg (131 kg snatch, 163 kg clean and jerk).
Pool/AFP/Chris GRAYTHEN
Indonesian lifter Eko Yuli Irawan in the men\'s 61 kg weightlifting competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo, on Sunday (25/7/2021).
Eko Yuli, who is already 32 years old, ensures that he will continue to compete and seeks to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics if his physical condition allows. However, Eko’s greatest motivation is to mentor young athletes who will become successors of the Olympic medal tradition.
“We will look forward. If I’m given the opportunity and can compete, then why not? I will try to guide the juniors, like Windy (Cantika Aisah), to aim for a medal at the Asian Games, maybe even more. We also have Rizky Juliansyah, who we can watch over. The point is we can support them,” said Eko.
In the 67 kg class, lifter Deni placed ninth with a total lift of 301 kg (135 kg snatch, 166 kg clean and jerk). He admitted that his preparations were not optimal as his practices were hampered for four days prior to departing for Tokyo due to testing positive for COVID-19. “I’ve tried my best, but this is the result. I apologize for not being able to reap the best results yet,” said Deni.
