Eko Yuli Proves he Can Still Compete

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Eko Yuli Irawan

Eko Yuli deserves the opportunity to join national training again after proving himself at the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games 2021 in Vietnam. He still has the potential to excel at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

HANOI, KOMPAS — Indonesia's top lifter, Eko Yuli Irawan, shows that age relativity — that age determines achievement — does not apply to him. At the age of 32, with minimal preparation, he was still unrivaled in the 61 kilogram class at the SEA Games 2021 in Vietnam. The lifter has ambitions to compete again at the Olympics. However, he asked for a better preparation program.

Eko won the SEA Games gold medal for the sixth time since 2007, at the Hanoi Sports Training Center on Friday (20/5/2022). The oldest lifter in the 61 kg class came to dominate with a total lift of 290 kg, from a 135 kg snatch and a 155 kg clean and jerk.

So dominant, Eko only needed one successful lift in the clean and jerk to excel in the total lift. He did not need to try the third lift because his closest opponent, Muhamad Aznil from Malaysia, was only able to record a total lift of 287 kg (127 kg snap, clean and jerk 160 kg) before his last turn.

Eko proved that he was still the best lifter in Indonesia and ASEAN in the 61 kg class. "Sometimes I feel inferior as the oldest [lifter]. However, for us [in] weightlifting, young or old, whoever is strongest wins. The point is there. Therefore, as long as you are still number one, why not [continue to compete]. If the young ones want to compete, they have to beat me first,” he said after winning the medal.

Eko joined the weightlifting team after proving that he was still the best in the national training progress test when he beat other young lifters.

The Olympian lifter's journey was not so smooth before leaving for Vietnam. He had entered the national training just a month before the Games began. Eko joined the weightlifting team after proving that he was still the best in the national training progress test when he beat other young lifters.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Eko Yuli Irawan

The limitations of this preparation were reflected in the results in Vietnam. Eko did go for gold but he was not at his best. He failed to lift the third attempt in the snatch 138 kg and the first attempt clean and jerk 155 kg.

In fact, his achievement was far below his standard during training. As for the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, he broke three records at once with a total lift of 309 kg (snatch 140 kg and clean and jerk 169 kg).

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“Since 2007, this preparation has arguably been the shortest. So, the lift didn’t meet the target," said Eko, who has always won gold at the SEA Games with the exception of Kuala Lumpur 2017. With this proof, Eko hopes that he will still get a place in the national training camp to compete in the Asian Games and the Olympics. However, he requested that the preparation for the next event would be more advanced than now.

"Regarding [my participation in] the national training, it will depend on the federation again. If it is prepared, God willing, it will continue. As long as I am needed, I am always ready,” he added.

Weightlifting team coach Erwin Abdullah, who handled Eko, said that weightlifting was a measured sport. So, the achievement in the arena followed the preparation. That was what happened to his athlete. Around a month was not enough time for Eko to be at the peak of his performance.

The program to the Olympics cannot be like the SEA Games because the opponents are much tougher. Moreover, the Olympic qualification will begin in November 2022.

Therefore, if he wants to go to the Olympics, Erwin hopes that Eko can join the national training soon after returning from Vietnam. The program to the Olympics cannot be like the SEA Games because the opponents are much tougher. Moreover, the Olympic qualification will begin in November 2022.

Erwin believes that age does not hinder Eko's talent, who has competed in four consecutive Olympics. “There is still a chance [for Eko]. Even at 35 years old it is not a problem. The important thing is to have a sustainable program. It all depend on us and the lifter," he said.

Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali guaranteed that Eko could still participate in the upcoming events on the condition that he first pass the verification process of the National Sports Achievement Improvement (PPON) review team. The review team always refers to the track record of achievement during the selection of athletes.

LKS

Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali

After participating in the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Eko has taken part in every competition since, except in Singapore 2015 where weightlifting was not included. Of the seven competitions, the Lampung-born athlete has won six gold.

Natasya's debut

In the women's category, debut lifter Natasya Beteyob (21) managed to win bronze in the 55 kg class with a total lift of 188 kg from the snatch 84 kg and clean and jerk 104 kg. Natasya appeared confident even though she had to face Filipino Olympic gold winner Hidilyn Diaz.

Natasya's posture is always upright when she enters the arena to lift weights. The Papuan athlete also always shouts, showing guts, before before lifting. This bronze is a big achievement because she only entered the national training this year. Natasya was called to the national training center after winning silver at the 2021 Papua PON.

"I'm happy because she looked confident [competing] against Diaz. It's not easy to deal with an Olympic gold winner. Going forward, we still have to improve the technique. She has great power, but the technique is still not there," said head coach of the weightlifting team Dirdja Wihardja.

In this class, Diaz won gold, while Sanikun Tanasan from Thailand won silver.

(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo)