Prabowo Praises Soldier-Athlete for Winning Gold Despite Fractured Rib

President Prabowo Subianto has lauded the achievement of a soldier-athlete in equestrian who competed and secured a gold medal for the team at the Asian Games, despite suffering a fractured rib a few days prior to the event. The President shared this anecdote while motivating the Indonesian contingent for the 2026 Asian Games at the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 9. According to Prabowo, the athlete sustained the injury during training a few days before the competition and had the opportunity to be replaced by a reserve athlete. However, the athlete reportedly insisted on competing. The athlete persevered through the pain, ultimately contributing to the team's gold medal victory. Prabowo highlighted that the athlete's struggle earned the respect of referees and spectators, stating, "This person did not want to choose a safe path or an easy path. He thought about the honor of his nation and country." Given that the athlete is a soldier of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), President Prabowo issued an order to the TNI Commander for the athlete's rank to be raised. This incident is seen as a demonstration of dedication to the nation, even in the face of significant physical challenges, and aims to inspire national pride among Indonesians.