Waiting for Surprises from the "Non-Traditional" Branch of the Olympics

A total of 13 sports are fighting to get athletes to the 2024 Olympics. Some of them have no tradition of qualifying.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Menanti Kejutan dari Cabang ”Non-tradisi” Olimpiade

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

The performance of papuan judoka, Wairifer Bukwab (right) and Yewi Agus Sujadminto (left), in the kata nageno branch of judo at the Papua 2021 National Sports Week in Mimika, Papua, on Saturday (2/10/2021). Indonesia has a great chance to qualify judoka for the Paris Olympics.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - After rock climbing and artistic gymnastics enabled its athletes to qualify for the Olympics for the first time, it is not impossible for other sports that rarely send representatives to also surprise by qualifying for Paris 2024. The qualification from these "non-traditional" branches will increase the number of athletes participating and also increase Indonesia's chances of winning many medals.

Indonesia has at least four sports branches that have a strong tradition of qualifying for the Olympics. These four branches are archery, badminton and weightlifting, which have never been absent since the inclusion of these branches, and athletics, which was only absent at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Including archery which has already placed two representatives in the 2024 Paris Olympics, these four branches are still struggling to secure tickets to the event which will be held from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

With this cooperation, I am confident that we can open even greater opportunities for athletes to achieve brilliant achievements at the Paris Olympics.

Outside of these four branches, the potential for qualification also comes from branches with fewer participants compared to archery, badminton, weightlifting, and athletics. Judo, for example, has a great chance of sending its athletes again after last appearing in the 2012 London Olympics.

Also read: Maruli Simanjuntak Targets Indonesian Judoka to Return to the Olympics

Secretary General of the Indonesian Judo Association (PB PJSI), Regina Lefrandt Vega, said that there are two judokas who currently have the opportunity to qualify for the 2023 Paris Olympics, namely Maryam March Maharani (52 kilograms class) and Gede Agastya Dharma Wardhana (+100 kg). In order to secure a ticket to Paris, both judokas must break into the top 10 of the Asian rankings in order to qualify through the continental quota.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Athletes were practicing when visited by the Chairman of the Indonesian Judo Federation for the period of 2021-2026, Maruli Simanjuntak, on Tuesday (November 30, 2021) at the Judo Training Center in Ciloto, West Java.

"Maharani has entered the top 10 in Asia, while Agas was once in ninth position. Due to the high volatility, we continue to encourage them to gain more points to secure their position for Paris," said Regina at the signing of a collaboration agreement with the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the framework of national training for the qualification of the Paris 2024 Olympics, in Jakarta on Monday (26/2/2024)."

Maharani is now perched at the seventh position on the Asian ranking list with 575 points. This 23-year-old judoka's position is likely to rise by one level, following an additional 50 points earned after achieving third place in the Warsaw European Open 2024, on Saturday (24/2/2024). Meanwhile, Agas has been expelled from the top 10, with a total of 305 points.

Both Maharani and Agas have started their journey to Paris since 2022. They have participated in a total of six competitions to collect points. The two judoka who underwent a training camp in Europe will then take part in the Upper Austrian Grand Prix and the Tbilisi Grand Slam in March 2024.

Also read: Contrasting Targets for Badminton and Rock Climbing in Paris

If Maharani is able to maintain her position within the top 10 and Agas is able to follow in her teammate's footsteps until the qualifying period ends on June 23, 2024, then Indonesian judo will quench its thirst after more than a decade. The last time Indonesian judo sent a representative to the Olympics was in London 2012, with judoka Putu Wiradamungga. Prior to that, Indonesian judo was actively sending representatives.

In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Indonesia sent four judokas, namely Pujawati, Hengki Pie, Yudi Wahid, and Helena Miyagan Papilaya. Kresna Bayu represented Indonesia in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The same goes for the 2000 Sydney Olympics with Aprilia Marzuki and the 2004 Athens Olympics. Indonesia was absent from the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Apart from judo, there is also potential in the cycling race category. Two Indonesian cyclists, Bernard Benyamin Van Aert (omnium number) and Terry Yudha Kusuma (madison number, paired with Bernard) have the opportunity to compete in Paris. Currently, Bernard is ranked 12th in the world, 10 levels above the Olympic qualifying limit. Indonesia, on the other hand, is ranked 19th in the madison category, still striving to break into the top 16 to qualify.

The cycling branch last sent its representative to the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics. In total, this branch has only participated in four Olympic editions.

Also read: Many Badminton Athletes Have Qualified for the Olympics

Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, said that the more athletes who qualify for the Olympics, the greater Indonesia's chances of winning many medals. Since first participating in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Indonesia has collected a total of 37 medals. The number of gold medals has never exceeded two.

Providing assistance

Therefore, according to Dito, their team is ready to support sporting branches that have the opportunity to participate in the Olympic qualifications. Kemenpora has even allocated a total fund of IDR 81.3 billion to support 13 sports branches in going through the qualification process.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

Representatives from the federation attended the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Main Branch Sports Organization and the Ministry of Youth and Sports in order to centralize national training for the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifications on Monday (26/4/2024) in Jakarta.

This fund is given directly to each respective federation after the signing of the cooperation agreement. Eleven federations have signed the agreement on Monday (26/2/2024).

Among them are PB PABSI (weightlifting), PB ISSI (cycling), PB Persani (gymnastics), PP Perpani (archery), PP PBVSI (volleyball), and PB TI (taekwondo). Then there are PP PBSI (badminton), PB PJSI (judo), PB PASI (athletics), and Indonesian aquatics.

Also read: Qualifying the 2024 Paris Olympics, Rahmad Adi Mulyono is aiming for the ultimate dream

Meanwhile, two other sports branches, PB PODSI (rowing) and PB Perbakin (shooting), will soon sign a cooperation agreement. Meanwhile, the sport of rock climbing receives funding directly managed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, not the federation.

"With this collaboration, I am confident that we can open up even greater opportunities for athletes to achieve outstanding achievements at the Paris Olympics," said Dito.

KOMPAS/REBIYYAH SALASAH

Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, delivered a speech at the signing ceremony of a collaboration between the Main Sports Branch Organization and the Ministry of Youth and Sports in order to centralize national training for qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympic games, on Monday (26/4/2024), in Jakarta.

The Minister of Youth and Sports hopes to have 20-30 Indonesian athletes from 13 different branches qualify for Paris. Thus far, only six athletes have confirmed their qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. They are Arif Dwi Pangestu and Diananda Choirunisa (archery), Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi and Rahmad Adi Mulyono (rock climbing), Rifda Irfanaluthfi (artistic gymnastics), and Fathur Gustafian (shooting).

In Tokyo 2020, Indonesia is sending a total of 28 athletes. As for the highest number of athletes sent by Indonesia to the Olympics, it was 47 athletes during Sydney 2000. At that time, Indonesia won a total of six medals consisting of one gold, three silver, and two bronze.