Indonesian Athletes Dominate 33rd SEA Games, Exceeding Gold Medal Expectations
Indonesia’s athletics team concluded a remarkably successful campaign at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, securing a total of 9 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze medals between December 11-16, 2025. The team surpassed its initial target of seven gold medals, signaling a significant step forward for Indonesian athletics on the regional stage and bolstering ambitions for future success at the Asian and world levels.
A Transformative Performance in Thailand
“Achieving these 9 gold medals is the result of hard work, discipline and the transformation of the coaching system that we implement,” stated a senior official from the All Indonesian Athletics Association (PB PASI). “These results prove that Indonesian athletics is on the right track towards Asian and world level.” The team’s performance was marked by both individual brilliance and consistent strength across multiple disciplines.
Record-Breaking Performances Highlight Early Successes
The Games began strongly for Indonesia with a historic performance from Diva Renatta Jayadi in the Women’s Pole Vault. Jayadi cleared a height of 4.35 meters, not only winning gold but also breaking the SEA Games record and setting a new National Record (Rekornas) of 4.20 meters, improving upon her previous best set at the 2024 PON Games.
Momentum continued in the hurdles, where Dina Aulia initially appeared to break both the SEA Games and national records in the preliminary round with a time of 12.72 seconds. However, due to technical issues with the electronic timing system, as confirmed by an official statement from Asian Athletics, the time was not recognized as an official record. Aulia nonetheless secured the gold medal in the final with a time of 13.21 seconds, accompanied by a silver medal for teammate Emilia Nova, delivering a one-two finish for Indonesia.
Veteran Leadership and Emerging Stars
Maria Natalia Londa, a mainstay of Indonesian athletics, reaffirmed her dominance in the Women’s Triple Jump, winning gold with a leap of 13.85 meters. This victory marked her 17th medal in SEA Games competition, solidifying her legacy as one of Southeast Asia’s most decorated athletes.
Indonesia experienced a particularly dominant showing on the fourth day of competition, sweeping all four gold medals in the 20km race walk and marathon events. Hendro completed the men’s 20km race walk in 01:35:25, while Violine Intan secured gold in the women’s event with a time of 01:46:52. Robi Syianturi (02:27:33) and Odekta Elvina Naibaho (02:43:13) then triumphed in the men’s and women’s marathons, respectively. This achievement represents the first time Indonesia has simultaneously won both the marathon and race walk titles at a single edition of the SEA Games.
Throwing and Heptathlon Contribute to Medal Haul
The throwing events also yielded success, with Abd Hafiz winning gold in the Men’s Javelin Throw with a throw of 72.82 meters, establishing a new National Record. This surpassed the previous record held by Silfanus Ndiken, set earlier in 2025 at the National Championship. Ndiken further contributed to Indonesia’s success by securing a silver medal in the same event, demonstrating the nation’s strength in the discipline.
Emilia Nova concluded the athletics program on a high note, winning gold in the Women’s Sapta Lomba (Heptathlon) with a total of 5,497 points. This performance also set a new National Record in the event, surpassing her previous best of 5,286 points recorded at the 2017 SEA Games.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Momentum and Global Ambitions
The success in Thailand has been lauded by officials, who emphasized the importance of continued support and strategic investment. “We express our deepest gratitude to the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports for its policy and budget support, as well as to MIND ID for faithfully accompanying the national athletic development journey,” said Luhut. “This synergy is the key to our success on the world stage.”
PB PASI officials stressed that this achievement will serve as a benchmark for future progress, with a comprehensive evaluation planned to ensure the sustainability of this momentum. The focus will now shift to preparations for a series of prestigious international events in 2026, including the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships (February), the Asian U20 Athletics Championships (July), and the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya (September).
(ran/bay)
