JAKARTA, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Youth and Sport Minister Imam Nahrawi reaffirmed the government target for the country's contingent to win the ongoing 2019 ASEAN School Games in Central Java province, local media reported on Thursday.
"I want the country's contingent to be the champion in this ASEAN School Games. It must win the Games," Minister Imam unveiled.
"The big goals in the future are to be the champion of the SEA Games and even [to win more titles in] the Olympics," he added.
Big bonuses have been provided should the country's contingent meet the target of winning the championship, Nahrawi disclosed.
"As they are now students and not similar to senior athletes, the bonuses will be in the form of scholarships," he revealed.
Over 1,600 student athletes from 10 ASEAN member countries are taking part in the multisport event in Central Java's provincial capital of Semarang. Hosts Indonesia alone have sent 183 student athletes to the Games, which commenced on Wednesday and will end on July 25.
The competition features nine events, including track and field, badminton, basketball, lawn tennis, table tennis, volleyball, swimming, sepak takraw and Indonesia's traditional martial art of pencak silat.
During the ASEAN School Games last year in Malaysia, Indonesia won 31 gold, 36 silver and 31 bronze medals to rank second after the host country.
