JAKARTA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian youth and sport ministry has set a top-four target in the forthcoming 19th Asian Games in 2022 in China, similar to what was achieved during the world's second largest sport event in Indonesia last year, a senior official confirmed Friday.
Secretary Gatot S. Dewa Broto said that the ministry has taken measures to boost spirit of the athletes, including providing huge bonuses after the 18th Asian Games.
"The goal of the move is to encourage the athletes to develop further their skill and capability. And we are upbeat on the fourth position, similar with what we did in the Asian Games last year," he was quoted by Kompas media as saying.
The 19th Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 10-25, 2022.
Indonesia moved up to fourth place after China, Japan and South Korea in the 18th Asian Games. That is a major improvement from the 17th place achieved in the 2014 Asian Game in Incheon, South Korea. Indonesian athletes secured a total of 31 gold medals during the 2018 Asian Games.
