“We are planning to build several football schools here,” club chief executive Ernesto Paolillo told reporters through a local translator.

“Indonesia is very important for us because the country has a lot of Inter Milan fans,” he said, without giving further details of the plan.

Local media showed images of the team arriving at the airport in Jakarta, where throngs of fans greeted them. The club claims to have 15 million fans in the country of 240 million people.

The team will play a friendly Thursday evening against an all-star Indonesian team made up of players from the national team, elite leagues and the under-23 youth team.

They will play the same team in a second friendly on Saturday.

“It’s the first time I’ve been to this country and it’s a real honour,” said captain Javier Zanetti.

“Thank you for the warmth you’ve shown. It’s been a tough season but we hope to make our fans happy, at least over the next few days.”

(AFP)

Sony’s defeat gives the Tigers a lifeline they’ll try to take advantage in Sunday’s return leg at Cheras Badminton Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

The inaugural $1 million men’s team tournament, now the sport’s biggest purse, uses a home-and-away format for the semifinals and finals, with set wins and total points making up the first and second tiebreakers, respectively.

Garuda has a 4-2 edge set wins. The 116-104 point disparity also favors the Indonesians.

But Tigers’ coach Rashid Sidek managed a smile after his team’s loss. “Garuda is strong, but at least we won a match,” he said.

Rashid had another reason to smile: injured star Lee Chong Wei, the world No. 1, might be available for the second leg.

It had been reported that Lee, who is nursing an injured right shoulder, was likely to play in the first leg, but Malaysia held him out at the last minute.

“We decided to give him more time to rest,” the coach said. “We might be able to play him in the second leg, but it depends on what the doctor says.”

Without Lee, the Tigers turned to world No. 28 Daren Liew to hold down the first singles spot, and he was easy pickings for Taufik Hidayat, Garuda’s top shuttler and the world No. 11.

Taufik beat Daren 21-19, 21-9 to put Garuda ahead at the Kelapa Gading Sports Mall in Jakarta.

In the men’s doubles match, the Tigers passed over Malaysia’s top pair, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, who have been criticized for a recent string of poor performances.

Instead, the team went with Lim Khim Wah and Goh Wei Shem. But they fell to Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan, 21-17, 21-17, giving Garuda an unassailable lead.

“We wanted to get more experience for Lim and Goh,” Tigers’ doubles coach Tan Kim Her said. “Koo and Tan will likely to play in the second leg. But we’ll see.”

Things turned some in the last match, with Sony losing 21-13, 21-19 to 2003 All England champion M. Hafiz Hashim. It was Sony’s first lost in the event after winning all three of his matches in the group stage.

“I apologize to all the fans because I failed to win the match,” Sony said. “I tried my best but just couldn’t finish him off.

Indonesia’s other team in the championship, Rajawali, plays Malaysia’s Leopard squad in the other semifinal. Their first- leg match is today in Kuala Lumpur.

It features large portraits of such club legends as Robbie Fowler, Ian Rush Kenny Dalglish and of course Gerrard, and details of great moments in the club’s history.

Its Facebook page says: ‘Our hotel offer you the striking blend of architecture and natural surroundings, with the state of the art facilities presented here.

‘Stevie G Hotel has 24 executive rooms and every room features a uniqueness of the interior design to match your vibrant lifestyle.’

The Liverpool club website does not make any reference to the hotel, but it does have a page for the club’s Indonesian fans.

Last summer, former club captain Phil Neal, who played for the club 650 times, visited the country to help launch plans for official club soccer schools and an international academy.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/oddballs/891694-liverpool-captain-steven-gerrard-has-hotel-named-after-him-in-indonesia#ixzz1oaJ1VQl7

The featherweight super champion received the award during the 19th WBA Annual Awards Dinner in Panama City in Panama Last week.

Many top names in world boxing, including legends such as Britain’s Ricky Hatton and Thailand’s Khaosai Galaxy, attended the event.

“It’s really an honor as the award is a recognition of all my hard work,” the 32-year-old said.

Chris, dubbed the Dragon, has been unbeaten since he joined pro boxing in 1998. He has a 46-0-2 record with 22 KOs.

He has defended his crown 15 times since winning it in an interim bout against Oscar Leon in 2003 and now holds the record for WBA’s longest title reign in all divisions.

If he manages to defend the title four more times, Chris will level Eusebio Pedroza’s record for featherweight title defenses. The Panaman boxer defended his belt 19 times between 1978 to 1985.

Chris has said he will stay in boxing for another three years. If he can do that and keep the title, he’ll surpass US fighter Johnny Kilbane’s record title reign (1912 to 1923) in the division.

The Dragon, no doubt, is one of the best and has advanced Indonesia’s boxing scene reputation. But the fact that he’s the only champion from the country has caused him some concern.

“The state of Indonesian boxing, both amateur and pro, has been poor in the past years. There have barely been any boxing events in the country. Something need to be done to revive boxing here,” he told the Jakarta Globe on Monday before boarding a plane to Panama.

“I think local boxers need to train harder and improve their skills so fans will want to see them and investors will want to stage more tournaments. In return, they will earn more money and revive Indonesia’s boxing.”

Chris, whose next bout is temporarily scheduled for May 5 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore against a still unnamed opponent, said he’ll try to help rejuvenating the sport in the country.

“After I retire, hopefully three years from now, I’ll try to spread my boxing knowledge and experience. Maybe I’ll build a gym,” he said. “I want to see more world champions from Indonesia and I hope that will be happening soon.”

taken from The Jakarta Globe

The Young Garuda beat Vietnam 2-0 in their semifinal match at Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, to reach the final of the event featuring Asean Football Federation members’ U-21 teams.

In Friday’s championship, coach Widodo C. Putro’s side will play either host Brunei or Burma, who played later on Wednesday. Indonesia will try to win the event for the second time, having done so in the inaugural tournament in 2022.

Two Persebaya 1927 Surabaya strikers, Miko Ardianto and Andik Vermansyah, teamed up for Indonesia’s goals. Miko hit the first in the 35th minute after receiving a pass from Andik and the score stayed until halftime, and the 20-year-old returned the favor in the second half as he set up Andik for the second in the 71st.

Like the other national teams, the U-21s were restricted to selecting players from leagues sanctioned by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI).

“I’m very pleased with the result, but I told the boys to keep their feet on the ground because this is not over yet,” Widodo told the Jakarta Globe by text message.

“The key to victory was our strong midfield. I told them not to let Vietnam’s players dominate the midfield and they did just that. Now I’ll try to get the players back to top fitness for Friday’s final after this grueling match.”

The victory was a welcome bit of good news, especially after the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs said on Tuesday that it would halt government funding for the PSSI. It partly blamed the incessant bickering in domestic football’s governing body for the senior team’s 10-0 loss at Bahrain in 2014 World Cup qualifying.

However, acting ministry secretary Djoko Pekik aid on Wednesday that there was still a chance the PSSI would receive this year’s budget, in which it asked for Rp 40 billion ($4.4 million).

“We’re waiting to see if the PSSI can restore order in its own house,” Djoko said. “If they can settle their differences in the March 18 congress, we’ll give the funding back to them.”

The PSSI is scheduled to hold its annual congress in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, on March 18, while rebel members have said they will hold their own summit in Jakarta on the same day.

Elsewhere, the Indonesian Premier League’s Arema Indonesia began its run in the AFC Cup with a 1-1 home draw against Burma’s Ayeyawady United.

Roman Chmelo put Arema ahead at Gajayana Stadium in Malang after 28 minutes. The host lost defender Gunawan Dwi Cahyo in the 41st minute to a red card for a tackle from behind on Jupiter Yves Ngangue, though.

The Burmese side leveled in the 63rd after Fariz Bagus Dhinata’s own-goal. The Arema defender scored into his own net while trying to block a shot by Ngangue.

taken from The Jakarta Globe

Lalu yang ketiga adalah petinju nasional Ellyas Pical, dialah petinju pertama negeri ini yang mampu mengibarkan sang merah putih di pentas tinju professional tingkat dunia, saat berhasil menjuarai kelas Bantam Junior versi IBF pada tahun 1985. Saya juga masih ingat, rumah saya penuh dengan para tetangga yang juga tidak ingin ketinggalan menonton pertandingan Elly Pical, sang “exocet”.

Setelah masa ketiganya pudar, orang Indonesia (paling tidak saya) tak lagi merasakan hype yang sama, gegap gempita yang sama. Ada beberapa sebab, salah satunya mungkin adalah media massa kita yang kurang memberi porsi, sehingga prestasi para atlet kita (terutama tinju) jarang terdengar.

Jarang terdengar, bukan berarti tidak ada. Indonesia mempunyai juara unia tinju profesional Super Champion kelas bulu WBA Chris John. Dan bukan hanya sekedar juara dunia. Dia akan menerima penghargaan dari WBA sebagai petinju yang memegang gelar juara dunia terlama. Penghargaan itu akan diberikan langsung oleh Presiden WBA Gilberto Mendoza Jr di Panama bersamaan dengan Konvensi WBA di negara tersebut.

Nama penghargaan tersebut adalah Nomited for Fighter of The Year and Decade and They Give Special Award for Champion with The Longest Reign.  Petinju dengan julukan The Dragon memegang gelar juara dunia sembilan tahun setelah merebutnya dari tangan petinju Kolombia, Oscar Leon melalui pertarungan ad-interim di Bali, Oktober 2003.

Sejak merebut gelar juara dunia tersebut, ayah dua putri ini sudah 15 kali mempertahankan gelarnya. Bahkan setelah menang atas Hiroyuki Enoki pada pertarungan di Jepang, 24 Oktober 2008, Chris John berhak menyandang gelar Super Champion karena berhasil mempertahankan gelar 10 kali berturut-turut.

See?

Kita mempunyai banyak hal yang membanggakan, namun kadang media kita tak terlalu antusias mengabarkan.

Rio will undergo a preseason training test for his new team at the Circuito de Jerez, in southern Spain. The test will run through Thursday.

It won’t be his first time driving a GP2 car. Rio raced in last November’s postseason GP2 Final exhibition event at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for the DAMS team.

The Indonesian teenager officially joined Marussia Carlin last Friday, after spending the last two years with its subsidiary, Marussia Manor Racing, in the GP3 Series, a feeder class for GP2.

By moving up to GP2, Rio is one step closer to reaching his goal, which is to race in the Formula One circuit. That wouldn’t be a far-fetched dream as Marussia, a sport cars manufacturer from Russia, also has a team in the world’s premiere motorsports event.

“I am looking forward to my first year in the series with the Marussia Carlin GP2 Team,” Rio, 19, said in a statement. “GP2 is just a level below the most prestigious single-seater racing event in the world, Formula One.”

GP2 was inaugurated in 2005 following the discontinuation of the long-term F1 feeder series, Formula 3000.

Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 F1 world champion, began his career after winning the GP2 in 2006.

The Semarang-born Rio, who has been racing since he was 8, raced in the 2010 GP3 season after winning the 2009 Formula BMW Pacific championship and finished fifth overall in his debut with Marussia Manor Racing.

Last year he picked up two victories, in Germany and Hungary, to finish seventh for the season.

Rio has been a part of the Marussia F1 Team Young Driver Program for the past two years and was the first Indonesian to drive an F1 car when he was invited by Virgin Racing to the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi in 2010.

“Rio is an extremely welcome addition to the team,” said Trevor Carlin, Marussia Carlin’s racing director. “He is still very young but having watched him firsthand in GP3 last year, I’m sure we’ll see some exciting racing from him this year.”

The 12-series GP2 season is scheduled to start in Sepang, Malaysia, on March 24-25.

Antara, JG

Taken from: The Jakarta Globe

“That was what we had been able to do. So we have to be satisfied with it. Our actual aim here is indeed to pass to the final round in Wuhan,” men`s single player Simon Santoso said.

Simon withdrew from the match for a third place against Malaysian player Daren Liew due to ankle injure while he was left behind in points 2-7.

“What is important is we must fight again in the match in Wuhan later. It is still a long way to go,” the world`s ranked 10th player said.

Men`s double player Alvent Yulianto shared his view saying what was important was passing the qualification round.

“In terms of team I am satisfied as what is important for Indonesia is to proceed to the final round. Ranks are not important,” he said.

But personally he said he was was not quite satisfied with his performance that day.

Indonesia advanced to compete for a third place after in the semifinal it was beaten by defending champion China 0-3 while Malaysia surrendered to Japan also 0-3. China and Japan are scheduled to meet in the final round of the qualification round on Sunday.

Malaysia seemed not very serious in the competition for a third place by fielding men`s double player Koo Kien Keat to play in the men`s single against Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka.

In the final match Hayom won 21-8, 21-9 to confirm Indonesia`s victory over Malaysia 3-2.

Malaysia`s manager Dato`Syed Abu Bakar who also did not field number one player Lee Chong Wei denied the accusation saying “we wished to give an opportunity to players who seldom play at international tournaments to play like Daren and Arif,” he said.

About Koo he said that Koo used to be a single player while he was still junior.

“We only brought 10 players here and Koo was once a single player and so there was nothing wrong if we decided to field him,” he said.

“Indonesia has a great potentials in football, this is the reason we choose to come to Indonesia,” the club`s Chief Executive Officer, Ernesto Paolillo, said here on Monday.

Apart from conducting an exhibition match with local football players, Paolillo said, his side would also hold discussions to establish a football school in Jakarta and other provinces in Indonesia.

Meanwhile , the chairman of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), Djohar Arifin, warmly welcomeds Inter Milan`s plan to visit Indonesia.

“We will prepare our players to face Inter Milan next May,” he said.

Inter Milan is set to play an exhibition match against Indonesia Selection team next May 24 and against U-23 team in May 26.

The Italian football club will bring along its star players such as Diego Forlan, Julio Cesar, Esteban Cambiaso, Diego Militio, Walter Samuel, Christian Chivu, Dejan Stankovic and Ricardo Alvarez.

Other players set to visit Indonesia are Yuto Nagatomo, Marco Faraoni, Coutinho and Luc Castignos.(*)

“We won’t just teach techniques, but also about character. We have access there so it’s not impossible for the children to play there,” Indonesian Real Madrid Foundation chairman, Faisal, said yesterday.

The seven schools that will be inaugurated on March 3 will be located in Aceh, Yogyakarta, East Java, South Sulawesi, South Kalimantan and Papua. The foundation, said Faisal, also plans to open one school in each province by 2016.

Bakrie bought a 70 percent stake in Brisbane Roar last September, becoming the first majority foreign owner of an A-League team.

Football Federation Australia announced Monday that Bakrie had “acquired 100 percent ownership” and was in the process of appointing a board that will include both foreign and local directors.

Bakrie Group also has stakes in football clubs in Belgium, Uruguay and Indonesia.

“This is a significant step for the A-League with the Brisbane Roar becoming the first Australian professional club with owners from Asia,” A-League chief Lyall Gorman said in a statement. “We can foresee many exciting opportunities ahead for the Roar and Australian football under this relationship.

“Best of all the Bakrie Group is full of passionate football people, who will bring an injection of new ideas and insights to our national competition.”

Aga Bakrie said he saw “huge potential” in the A-League and wanted to develop Brisbane into Australia’s biggest club and a powerful player on the continental stage.

The FFA announced last year that Bakrie Group had taken the initial stake under a 10-year license. FFA, which took the Roar’s license in March 2011, originally retained 30 percent.

FIFA ethics committee member Dali Tahir will be chairman of the club.

Although it was the first foreign majority ownership of an A-League team when it was announced last year, Russian millionaire banker David Traktovenko had a 20 percent stake in Sydney FC through one of his Australian manufacturing subsidiaries at the same time.

The A-League has been troubled by team ownership issues, in addition to having to take over the Brisbane license. The North Queensland Fury folded in February due to financial problems, reducing the league to 10 teams, and there have been some issues with several other franchises.

taken from The Jakarta Post

Akademi ini akan diperuntukan bagi anak berusia 5 hingga 18 tahun, untuk mengembangkan bakat dan keterampilan mereka dalam sepak bola. Akademi itu juga mempunyai visi panjang untuk menciptakan pemain masa depan berkualitas untuk kelangsungan masa depan sepak bola Indonesia.

“Sekarang sudah ada beberapa sekolah sepak bola, tapi tampaknya ini (FCB Escola Indonesia) merupakan program jangka panjang, dari usia dini. Apalagi, saya pikir ini cukup lengkap, karena dibekali dengan program jangka panjang yang baik. Jadi, kita sangat menyambut baik ini semua, dan tentu rakyat Indonesia akan menunggu hasilnya nanti,” kata Tunas Dwidarto, staf Khusus Kemenpora.

FCB Escola Indonesia menawarkan sejumlah kegiatan, seperti summer camp, seminar, klinik pelatihan di Camp Nou selama dua minggu, dan menonton “El Clasico” secara langsung. Biaya untuk masuk akademi tersebut diperkirakan akan mencapai Rp 10 juta per bulan untuk setiap siswanya.

Dengan ini semakin terbuka lebar bagi para calon garuda muda untuk mengasah skill sepak bolanya. Seperti yang diketahui setelah beberapa anak Indonesia dari Tunas Garuda mendapat kesempatan bersama Arsenal, selain itu ada yang mendapat kesempatan bersama AC Milan Camp Junior ditambah dengan SSB dari klub professional itu merupakan bekal yang cukup bagi garuda muda di masa mendatang.

Tidak memungkinkan pemain Indonesia nanti akan lebih hebat dari Park Ji-Sung, bintang Asia di Manchester United atau mungkin akan ada talenta yang melebihi Jack Wilshere dari akademi Arsenal, Raul dari akademi Real Madrid, Steven Gerard dari akademi Liverpool, Maldini dari akademi AC Milan hingga talenta Indonesia yang melebihi Xavi, Iniesta dan Messi yang merupakan binaan dari Barcelona yang dimana semua akademi itu kini sudah ada dan akan dibangun di Indonesia. Kita doakan saja!

“If Malaysia and Singapore can do it, why can’t we? Even though this is just my dream, I’ll work very hard to make it happen,” National Police deputy chief Comr. Gen Nanan Soekarna said on Monday in a press statement as quoted by tempo.co.

Nanan, who if elected would join a long line of senior police and military officers heading national athletic organizations, said he wanted to bring all automotive sports under IMI up to the international level.

“We have potential racers. IMI will support them to race outside Indonesia,” Nanan said, adding that he would involve the government, sole-authorized agents (ATPM) and other relevant parties to support the move.

IMI is set to appoint a new chairman at its national meeting later this week in Surakarta, Central Java.

Nanan is competing with Army Lt. Gen. Hotma Mangaradja Panjaitan and businessmen Adiguna Sutowo, Benny Laos, Sadikin Aksa and Johny Pramono to replace the current IMI chairman, Ari Batubara.

News Source: The Jakarta Post

Palembang secara verbal sudah menyatakan kesiapannya, dengan catatan pemerintah harus mendukung penuh. Lalu bagaimana dengan kota-kota lain?

Saya rasa dari segi infrastruktur, Jakarta, Palembang, Surabaya, Medan, Balikpapan, Makassar, Malang, cukup siap, tentu saja dengan berbagai penyesuaian, penambahan dan perbaikan.

Indonesia pernah menjadi tuan rumah Asian Games pada tahun 1962, dimana Indonesia menempati urutan 2 dengan 21 medali emas, dibawah Jepang.

Bahkan, Stadion Gelora Bung Karno/Senayan di bangun itu gara gara Indonesia menjadi tuan rumah Asian Games 1962 yang merupakan Asian Games yang ke-4 dari tanggal 24 Agustus 1962 sampai 4 September 1962. 1.460 atlet berlaga, datang dari 16 negara, dengan 15 cabang olahraga.

Indonesia perlu segera menyadari bahwa bangsa besar ini harus mulai berlari cepat dan melupakan kesuksesan penyelenggaraan Sea Games. Indonesia pantas menjadi tuan rumah event yang lebih besar, Asian Games. Dan kita perlu memulainya dari sekarang.

“Real Madrid international and cooperation project director and the LPI [Indonesian Education League] national crew chief visited the sports and football facilities and infrastructure in the Lhong Raya area.

“They will build a sports school in Aceh in 2012,” Muhammad Nazar said Thursday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

The plan to build the school, he said, was a product of a joint venture between the Real Madrid Foundation and Indonesian Education League.

Muhammad added that the school would be a social project aimed at increasing children’s love for soccer and improving their educational achievements, and also to help improve the future of Indonesian soccer.

According to Muhammad, Real Madrid also plans to open schools in seven other cities across Indonesia in 2012.

He added that Aceh administration was in favor of the project and was prepared to provide support in the form of funding from the regional state budget.

“The Aceh administration supports [the school project]. We hope legislators also won’t mind,” he said

Former England captain Beckham and his coach, Bruce Arena, were both full of praise for the footballing talents of their hosts.

Irish striker Robbie Keane’s goal in the 14th minute sealed the Major League Soccer club’s victory at Gelora Bung Karno, but the host team — a mix of players from the national Under-23 and senior teams coached by Rahmad Darmawan – clearly impressed its illustrious guest.

The MLS champion didn’t entirely dominate the match as expected. The combination of Andik Vermansyah, Greg Nwokolo and Patrich Wanggai up front wreaked havoc in the Galaxy’s defense, but some woeful finishing meant the host was denied the goal its play deserved.

Arena gave a thumbs-up to the Indonesians after the match and reserved special praise for Andik and the newly naturalized Nwokolo.

“Indonesia played very well. It was a difficult game. It was a good performance … The team has very good balance,” Arena said after the game. “Numbers 21 [Andik] and 10 [Nwokolo] played well.”

Beckham was also impressed.

“Like the manager said, it was a difficult game. The Indonesia side is very quick and they know how to play the game,” said the star midfielder, who decided to swap jerseys with Andik after the game despite tangling with him during the match.

“I felt bad for kicking him [Andik]. He’s very talented player and I wanted his shirt,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rahmad said he was proud of his team despite a lack of preparation time.

“The difference was that the Galaxy could control the game tempo,” he said. “This is a good experience for the boys, playing against world-class footballers.”

The downside was that Beckham, a household name around the world, only managed to attract 25,700 fans to the 86,000-seat stadium in Jakarta.

The Galaxy will continue its Asian tour in Manila against the Philippines on Saturday.

The tour wraps up in Australia on Dec. 6 with a match against the Melbourne Victory.

Sepengetahuan orang awam seperti saya, sudah lama rasanya tidak mendengar lagu Indonesia Raya berkumandang sebagai pemenang pertandingan sepakbola bergengsi seperti Sea Games. Maka ketika Garuda Muda menunjukkan cakarnya dalam pertandingan semifinal melawan Vietnam, tidak ada keraguan sedikitpun bagi saya untuk bergabung dengan puluhan ribu supporter lainnya untuk memerahkan Gelora Bung Karno (GBK). Walau bukan pengalaman pertama kali, hati saya tetap berdebar kencang setiap kali melihat kerumunan merah di GBK. Ada sesuatu yang magis dari perpaduan Sepakbola dan masyarakat umum Indonesia, seolah kerumunan merah ini rela mati demi Garuda Muda.

Saya yakin sebagian besar supporter yang datang ke GBK, termasuk saya, tahu bahwa menonton di rumah, atau di cafe, adalah pilihan yang lebih menarik dan juga lebih nyaman untuk menonton pertandingan Sepakbola dibandingkan dengan menonton langsung di GBK yang penuh sesak dengan manusia. Saya juga paham bahwa kehadiran supporter mungkin tidak akan berpengaruh secara langsung terhadap kemenangan team Garuda Muda. Tetapi saya tetap datang, dan sangat jelas terlihat bahwa saya tidak sendiri.

Satu hal yang membuat saya ingin lagi dan lagi untuk menonton langsung di GBK adalah moment dimana lagu Indonesia Raya dikumandangkan. Seumur hidup saya tidak pernah membayangkan bahwa pengalaman menyanyikan lagu Indonesia Raya bisa begitu menggugah hati. Lirik demi lirik yang dinyanyikan membawa optimisme yang tidak terbatas pada negri ini, seolah tak ada lagi yang berarti selain kemenangan malam ini. Adrenalin yang mulai meninggi, semangat, serta haru bercampur di dalam tiap bait Indonesia Raya. Ketika bait “Hiduplah Indonesia Raya..” mengakhiri lagu, teriakan semangat supporter mencapai puncaknya dan untuk beberapa detik saya mengira stadion ini bisa meledak karena teriakan itu.

Pada malam Final, tiket habis terjual sebelum saya bahkan berencana untuk kembali ke GBK. Akhirnya saya putuskan dukungan terhadap Garuda Muda harus tetap ada walau hanya dijembatani oleh layar wide screen sebuah café. Tidak ada lagu Indonesia Raya semenggetarkan di GBK, namun antusiasme penonton tidak kalah semangat. Cina, Sunda, Jawa, Batak dan Papua melebur di café itu menjadi Indonesia. Setiap langkah maju dari Garuda Muda selalu mengundang tepuk tangan dan teriakan. Luar biasa, Garuda Muda berjuang seperti layaknya seekor Garuda yang pantang menyerah.

Untuk saya, satu hal yang terbaca dari pertandingan malam itu, bahwa Garuda Muda tidak menunggu siapapun untuk membanggakan negri ini. Melalui usaha, keringat dan darah mereka sendiri terciptalah prestasi. Kadang menjadi tohokan yang tajam saat komentator menyebut umur para pemain Garuda Muda, mereka telah berbuat nyata untuk negri ini di umur sebelia itu, bagaimana dengan kita?

Pertandingan malam itu telah membawa makna lebih dari sekedar kekalahan dari Malaysia. Dalam kaca mata saya, Garuda Muda dengan sukses menyampaikan pada dunia bahwa mereka telah menjadi perubahan yang ingin mereka lihat dari dunia. They are the change they have been longing to see, and they are the leader they have been waiting for.

Sukses selalu Garuda Muda, tegakkan kepalamu, terbanglah tinggi ke awan. Perlihatkan kepada generasi muda Indonesia, bahwa menyalakan lilin selalu lebih baik dari berkeluh-kesah tentang kegelapan.

Jakarta, 22 November 2011.

written on Good News From Indonesia for MSN by Askiiasari Adityanthi

It was a measure of the host’s achievement that second-place Thailand was well off the pace with only 109 golds.

Indonesia amassed 55 golds from seven events that were part of the Games for the first time.

It was no secret that the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) proposed the inclusion of several niche sports as part of its master plan to dominate the Games. Once it garnered the support of at least three other countries, it succeeded in adding the sports.

The seven newcomers were roller sports, which yielded 12 golds; paragliding with 11; wall climbing 9; kempo 8; water skiing 4; bridge 4; and soft tennis 7.

“Without those sports, we still would have finished on top as we won a further 127 golds. Our closest rival, Thailand, finished with 109,” said Hadi Wihardja, the Indonesian Golden Program (Prima) officer in charge of monitoring the country’s sports training camps, said on Tuesday.

“That was because of our amazing improvement in several Olympic sports, such as swimming and athletics.”

Athletics, which was given a target of seven gold medals, finished with 12, while swimming, which only produced two golds in Laos two years ago, bagged six.

Cycling, which won only three golds in Laos, finished the games with a total of 12 golds from road, track and mountain bike events.

Among the winning performances, some new stars were born. Teenage swimmer I Gede Siman Sudartawa took everyone by surprise, winning four golds and breaking the Games record in the men’s 100m backstroke.

Despite the absence of Suryo Agung Wibowo, Indonesia found a new sprint king in Franklin Ramses Burumi, who finished with three gold medals.

However, Hadi admitted that the nation was still behind Thailand in Olympic sports as it bagged 14 golds from track and field and eight from swimming.

“Thailand has been focusing its athletes on Olympic sports, while we’re just starting to. That’s why more of their athletes have qualified for the 2012 London Olympics and there are now just 28 Indonesian athletes who’ll go there.” Hadi said.

Burma will host the 2013 Games, and Hadi said it would likely only have 25 sports.

On the last day of the Games, Thailand took the final two golds in men’s and women’s futsal in Jakarta. In Palembang, thousands of people poured into Jakabaring Sports City for the closing ceremony.

Compared with the extravagant Rp 150 billion ($16.7 million) curtain-raiser, the closer was a modest one, but there were still several pop stars involved to draw the crowds. Those who didn’t get tickets watched the event on giant screens or gathered in cafes and restaurants in the city.

Palembang cherished its moment in the spotlight all the more after the last-minute rush to complete the venues made many doubt its capability to host the biggest event ever held in the province.

“I’m really proud that my hometown is hosting this big sporting event. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime occasion,” said Rizki Adiputra, 19, before watching Vice President Boediono officially close the Games.

The news of the deaths of two fans in a stampede at the football final at Gelora Bung Karno on Monday gave the closing ceremony a somber undertone, though.

Games organizer Inasoc and the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) said on Tuesday that they took the responsibility and would compensate the victims.

The three new SEA Games records were set by Margareta Herawati in the women`s 100-meter fins, Patrol Gasoline in the men`s 200 meter surface and Angelina Sugianto in the women`s 200 meter surface.

Herawati broke the old SEA Games record of 51.55 seconds in the women`s 100-me fins by clocking at 51.05 seconds on her own name in 2009.

Patrol Gaoline, who clocked at one minute and 24.60 seconds broke the old record of 1 minute 28.60 seconds under the name of Vietnamese Ngu Xuan Phoung in 2009.

In the meantime, Angelina Soegianto set new SEA Games record by clocking at 1 minute 38.07 seconds in the women`s 200-meter event, breaking the old one which was 1 minute and 40.54 seconds under the name of Nguyen Thi Quynh of Vietnam in 2009. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli

It has even been predicted that Indonesia will bag gold medals far exceeding the target because the biennial sports festivities still has 74 other gold medals at stake in the last two days.

On the tenth day of the SEA Games Indonesia collected 15 golds from eight sport events where fins swimming and kempo contributed the biggest number of six golds respectively.

With Indonesia winning 50 more golds than those won by Thailand which is for the time being ranked second in the medal tally, the host country will unlikely be replaced in the first position except there is a miracle.

Soccer is expected to enrich the host`s medal achievement while satisfying its thirst after 20 years of absence in claiming the champion in the soccer field.

Indonesia`s last achievement to become soccer champion in the SEA Games was in 1991 in Manila.

Besides soccer, the other branches which are expected to become the mining field for Indonesian gold medals are paragliding, fins swimming, weightlifting, wushu, cycling, boxing and chess.

The Indonesian `Garuda` (eagle) Team has now flying farther and father ahead as up to 9.30 pm it has collected 154 golds, 129 silvers and 116 bronzes. It is followed by defending champion Thailand with 95 golds, 83 silvers and 105 bronzes.

In the third position was Vietnam, the second winner in SEA Games 2009 in Laos. It had collected 87 golds, 85 silvers and 90 bronzes, followed by Malaysia in the fourth position (52-45-70), and Singapore in fifth position (41-43-71).

Of the 11 participating countries in the 26th SEA Games, Brunei is the only participant which has not yet bagged a gold medal until Sunday but three silvers and seven bronzes.

Competition to win golds on Sunday was marked with the breaking of three SEA Games records in fins swimming at the Jakabaring`s Aquatics Stadium in Palembang, South Sumatra.

The three new SEA Games records were set by Margareta Herawati in the women`s 100-meter fins, Patrol Gasoline in the men`s 200 meter surface and Angelina Sugianto in the women`s 200 meter surface.

Herawati broke the old SEA Games record of 51.55 seconds in the women`s 100-me fins by clocking at 51.05 seconds on her own name in 2009.

Patrol Gaoline, who clocked at one minute and 24.60 seconds broke the old record of 1 minute 28.60 seconds under the name of Vietnamese Ngu Xuan Phoung in 2009.

In the meantime, Angelina Soegianto set new SEA Games record by clocking at 1 minute 38.07 seconds in the women`s 200-meter event, breaking the old one which was 1 minute and 40.54 seconds under the name of Nguyen Thi Quynh of Vietnam in 2009.

Yet, the Indonesian success in clinching 15 golds was marked by its failure in the men`s volleyball, bowling and dragon boat race.

Indonesia`s men`s volley ball team unexpectedly surrendered to Thailand`s team 0-3. Indonesia was the gold medalist in the last two SEA Games in Thailand in 2007 and in Laos in 2009 after defeating Thailand 3-2.

The most saddening one was in the bowling event where ten events were contested but Indonesia did not win any gold medal from this branch, even if Indonesia was reinforced with Ryan Lalisang, the gold medalist of the Asian Games in Doha in 2006.

Malaysia came up as the overall champion in the bowling event by claiming five golds, three silvers and six bronzes. It is followed by Singapore with (3-2-2), the Philippines (1-4-1) and Thailand which bagged one gold. Indonesia has to be content with one silver and one bronze.

The same fate was also experienced by Indonesia in the dragon boat race, even if this branch had been able to safeguard Indonesia with three gold medals in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in 2010.

Four dragon boats were fielded by Indonesia in this branch but none of them won a gold medal except one silver and two bronzes. (*)

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono