Indonesian Aquatics Aims to Break Medal Drought at Asian Games with Young Contingent

Indonesian Aquatics (PRSI) is sending a 14-athlete contingent to the 2026 Asian Games with the mission of ending a long-standing achievement drought. A significant characteristic of this contingent is that 10 out of the 14 athletes are young. PRSI Chairman Anindya Bakrie acknowledged the highly competitive nature of the Asian Games, stating, "We truly want to end the long-standing drought, as the Asian Games is very competitive." He urged the athletes to perform well. However, the composition of the squad, with a majority of young athletes, raises hopes for making new history. "But we have 14 athletes, 10 of which are young. Hopefully we can make history," he said. Furthermore, the bonus of Rp3 billion (approximately USD 200,000) for gold medalists announced by President Prabowo Subianto will serve as a strong motivation for the athletes. Bakrie described the bonus as "a motivation and also extraordinary attention for the athletes. He could get Rp3 billion." While specific medal targets or the most promising events have not yet been disclosed, this contingent, dominated by young athletes, will serve as a test for the new generation of Indonesian aquatics to showcase their capabilities at the Asian level. Source: VOI English