IDNAround – Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo greatly welcomed the end of the wait for the gold medal of the men’s SEA Games football after the under-22 national team defeated Thailand 5-2 in the final at the Olympic National Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 16, 2023.
Through his official Twitter account on Tuesday night, the President expressed his appreciation and celebration for the success of Indra Sjafri’s team in clinching a gold medal.
“It’s a dramatic 120-minute match, marked by the rain of red and yellow cards, and beautiful goals even in injury time,” he tweeted.
He also mentioned that it is the first gold medal in men’s SEA Games football after 32 years. “The Young Garuda team has finally presented the gold medal in soccer from the 2023 SEA Games, the end of the 32-year wait. Congratulations, Young Garuda!” he wrote.
Indonesia managed to beat Thailand 5-2 after playing an extra round of 2×15 minutes as the match ended with a 2-2 draw.
The President celebrated the achievement with a durian feast in Medan, North Sumatra, after the match wrapped up on Tuesday evening, May 16, 2023. In the video uploaded by the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube on Wednesday morning, the President, ministers, and a number of staffers enjoyed durian at Si Bolang Durian.
Jokowi also confirmed that he would think about appropriate prizes to be awarded to the Indonesian team for their achievements at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. Indonesia has thus far bagged 87 gold medals, exceeding the Youth and Sports Ministry’s target of 60 golds and the President’s target of 69 golds.
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