REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla is hopeful that the Indonesian contingent would win at least 25 gold medals in the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang. So far, Indonesia has bagged 23 gold medals.

"I am certain we can get to 24 and eventually 25. There are opportunities for us to reach that target in both Jakarta and Palembang and that is amazing," Vice President Kalla stated at the Vice Presidential offices in Jakarta, Tuesday.

The vice president is also optimistic of Indonesia coming in the top five out of the 45 countries in terms of the achievements of gold, silver, and bronze medals.

"We are almost at number four, as we have a difference of six gold medals with Iran, so if Iran goes up, then so do we. To be placed fourth is an impressive achievement compared to the 17th position in the last Asian Games in South Korea," he added.

The Indonesian contingent won an additional gold medal on Tuesday afternoon in badminton from young athlete Jonathan Christie and bronze medal from Anthony Sinisuka Ginting. In the men's doubles, Indonesia's Kevin Sanjaya and Markus Gideon also won a gold medal, while a silver medal was secured by the Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto duo.

Thus, a total of 71 medals were won by the Indonesian contingent comprising 24 gold medals, 18 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals. The vice president watched the badminton final match in the 2018 Asian Games along with his colleagues from the Jakarta Vice President's Office.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was grateful Indonesia has reached its 16 gold medals target in 2018 Asian Games. “We have a week more in Asian Games 2018 and our athletes have exceeded the 16 gold medals target. Today, Indonesia has bagged 22 gold medas, eight from pencak silat. And the medals hunting is still going on. Alhamdulillah,” Jokowi tweeted on Monday (August 27).

Jokowi said the opportunity to win gold medal is not only from pencak silat. There are many sport branches in the event, such as badminton, karate, jet skiing, rock climbing, and canoeing.

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