REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia has the potential to produce international sporting superstars like Lin Dan or Christian Ronaldo, according to a leading Australian sports scientist, Dr Jason Gulbin, an expert in the field of Talent Identification, said in a press release from Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

“Indonesia could use contemporary talent identification and development techniques to seek out its next international superstar, whether that is in badminton, football, athletics, karate or other sports,” said Dr Gulbin said at a seminar co-hosted by the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and the Australian Embassy on Monday.

Dr Jason Gulbin is the Head of Discipline for Athlete Pathway Development at the Australian Institute of Sport. “With a 240 million-strong population and the right coaching and sports science, the next Lin Dan or Christian Ronaldo could be Indonesian,” he said. 

Program Manager at the Indonesian Olympic Committee, Dr Greg Wilson, believes that increasing Indonesian skills in talent identification should see their national teams improve on their results globally.

“We can learn from the Australian sports system. Australia has proven that through strategic investment in sports science and talent identification, it is able to find athletes in certain sports who may be more suited to others,” Dr Wilson said.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty, values the strengthening sports cooperation between Australia and Indonesia. “The ongoing cooperation between the Australian Embassy and the Indonesian Olympic Committee is a great example of Australians and Indonesians cooperating through sport and further strengthens our bilateral ties,” he said.

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