PARAGLIDING SETS SIGHTS ON OLYMPICS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 31 (Antara) - Emerging as the overall champion at the paragliding event of the 18th Asian Games 2018, Indonesia is upbeat about the inclusion of paragliding in the 32nd Olympic Games in Japan, Tokyo, in 2020.              At the current Asian Games, a total of 18 gold, silver and bronze medals were up for grabs and host country Indonesia emerged as the overall champion after clinching two gold, one silver and three bronze medals.             The success of Indonesia---winning six medals in the paragliding event of the Asian Games 2018---paves the way for the national team to move into the Olympic Games.             "We have a target to include paragliding in the Olympic Games. That is a long-term target. Our short-term target is that paragliding should be included the South East Asian Games (SEA Games). Thus, we can also achieve the same success (as in the Asian Games)," said Wahyu Yudha, the Indonesian paragliding chairman, after the Asian Games paragliding match at Gunung Mas arena, Puncak, Bogor District, West Java, Wednesday, August 29.

THE CHAMPS BEHIND HOST'S OVERALL CHAMPION IN PENCAK SILAT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 31 (Antara) - Indonesia has emerged as the overall champion of the Pencak Silat branch at the 18th Asian Games 2018 held in the country's cities of Jakarta and Palembang from Aug 18 to Sept 2.      The country's martial arts champs, who brought fame to the host country Indonesia in Pancak Silat at the 18th Asian Games 2018 are Puspa Arumsari in the women's single; Yola Primadona Jampil and Hendy in the men's double; Nunu Nugraha, Asep Yuldan Sani, and Anggi Faisal Mubarok in the men's artistic group; Aji Bangkit Pamungkas in the men's class 85 kilograms-90 kilograms; Komang Harik Adi Putra in men's class E of 65-70 kilograms; Iqbal Candra Pratama in the men's D category of 60 kilograms-65 kilograms; Sarah Tria Monita in the women's C category of 55 kilograms-60 kilograms; and Abdul Malik in the Men's B category of 50 kilograms-55 kilograms.          The other Pencak Silat champs are Sugianto in the men's single art event; Ayu Sidan Wilantari and Ni Made Dwiyanti in the women's double art category; Pramudya Yuristya/Lutfi Nurhasanah/Gina Tri Lestari in the women's group; Pipiet Kamelia in the women's D class of 60 kilograms-65 kilograms; Hanifan Yudani Kusumah in the martial arts event; and Wewey Wita in the women's B class of 50kg-55kg.

INDONESIA DEMONSTRATES SUPERIORITY IN PENCAK SILAT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 30 (Antara) - Martial arts Pencak Silat is not only a self-defense system but also a part of the cultural wealth of Indonesia that is always performed as an enchanting exhibition at several traditional ceremonies.          The Pencak Silat arts defense system is also well-known in various other Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand.          In Indonesia, the term "Pencak" is widely used in Java, while "Silat" is used in Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and Kalimantan.          However, in its development later, the term "Pencak" put forward the elements of art and beauty of movements, while "Silat" was the core of the teachings of martial arts in a fight.          With the 18th Asian Games 2018 held in Indonesia, the host country succeeded in including Pencak Silat to be competed in at the biggest Asian sporting event while at the same time showcasing its superiority in this newly contested sports category.          Of the 16 events and classes contested in Pencak Silat, Indonesia succeeded in winning 14 gold medals. Pencak Silat debuts at the Asian Games 2018 being held from Aug 18 to Sept 2, with 16 gold medals from 10 defense and six motion-art events at stake.

INDONESIA EXCEEDS ITS MEDAL TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 27 (Antara) - Host Indonesia made a great success on the ninth day of the 18th Asian Games 2018 on Monday by adding 10 more gold medals to its gold medal standings to 22, exceeding its target of 16 for the ongoing biggest Asian sporting events.

Indonesia managed to grab the 10 gold medals consisting of eight from the Pencak Silat events and two from Sports Climbing.

On Monday evening, in the climbing sports, Indonesia won two gold medals. Its athlete Aries Rahayu Susanti has earlier clinched the first gold in the sports climbing in the women's speed event.

Monday's climber heroes are Indonesian Team 2 (Muhammad Hinayah, Rindi Sufriyanto, and Abu Dzar Yulianto) that took home the gold in the Men's Group Speed Rally category with a time of 18.68 seconds and Indonesian Team 1 (Aries Susanti Rahayu, Rajiah Salsabilah and Puji Lestari) with a time of 24.45 seconds.

INDONESIA UPBEAT ON ACHIEVING ASIAN GAMES TARGET

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 26 (Antara) -  Hosting the ongoing Asian Games 2018 in its  capital city of Jakarta and South Sumatran provincial capital of Palembang, Indonesia is optimistic it would achieve the target it has set in the Asian sporting events.         As the host of the Asian Games which will last from Aug 18 to Sept 2, Indonesia has set a target to grab at least 16 gold medals in the multi-sport events and to be included among the victorious Top Ten nations.          Until Sunday evening (Aug 26), a week after the opening of the Asian Games, Indonesia has secured 12 gold medals and is ranked fifth in the provisional medals tally. This means that Indonesia has exceeded half of its target both in terms of medal gains and ranking.         So far,  Indonesia had won 12 gold medals, two from paragliding, one from rowing, one from speed climbing, one from weightlifting, two from cycling, one from wushu, one from taekwondo, one from tennis, one from karate and one from jet ski.

ZOHRI EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE GOLD FROM ATHLETICS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 26 (Antara) - Indonesia failed to grab any medals on Saturday in four branches of athletics which began to be contested for six days in the on-going 18th Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia.           On Saturday (Aug 25), athletes competed to win four gold medals of the athletics in the events of  men's marathon, women's hammer throw, women's 10,000 meters run and shot put event but none of the gold, silver and bronze medals went to Indonesia.           Therefore, it is expected that Indonesia would clinch a medal, hopefully gold, this evening, from Indonesia's world 100-m sprinter champion Lalu Muhammad Zohri who will be fielded in two events of 100-m and 4x100 meter run.           Indonesian sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri won a gold medal in the 100-meter men's sprint in the U-20 World Athletic Championship in Finland on July 11, 2018.   According to a press release from the national athletics association PB PASI,  Zohri finished the race in 10.18 seconds.           Zohri, whose hometown is Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, beat two athletes from the United States -- Anthony Schwartz and Eric Harrison -- who finished in second and third place respectively at 10.22 seconds.

INDONESIA CAN STILL WIN MEDALS IN PARAGLIDING

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 25 (Antara) - Indonesia, which has pocketed two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal in the Paragliding sports of the 18th Asian Games 2018, still has a chance to increase its medal standing in this event.          There are two more gold, two silver, and two bronze medals at stake, especially in the Cross-Country/XC category. If Indonesian paragliders are able to clinch yet another gold in this category, then they would be able to exceed their target to grab two gold medals.          Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi has set a target to win two gold medals from the paragliding events. So, if they win another gold from the remaining two gold medals up for grab, it would be an exceptional achievement.           The Indonesian team is determined to take the third position in the XC events. "We will do our best to make achievement in the XC event. We are optimistic to achieve at least the third position in Big Three," Indonesia's Paragliding National Team Coach, Gendon Subandono, noted at the Gunung Mas Paragliding venue, Puncak, Bogor District, West Java, on Saturday.            Paragliding has started to be contested in the XC category as the last paragliding event contested in the 18th Asian Games. Cross-Country has two gold, two silver, and two bronze medals at stake, each in the men's and women's team classes

ASIAN GAMES 2018 FOSTER KOREAN UNITY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 21 (Antara) - The 18th Asian Games 2018, being organized by Indonesia in Jakarta and the South Sumatran provincial capital of Palembang from August 18 to September 2, serve not just to show superiority in sports, but to also forge Asian unity.         President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said at the opening of the biggest Asian sporting event that all the nations in Asia sought to show kinship between their countries. "We are united to achieve success," he remarked.         Divided so far, South Korea and North Korea, which have pledged to unify families for economic benefits and peace, supported each other in the current Asian Games, and in some events, even united as one team.         "We made history today because South and North Korea have united as one team to compete in the Asian Games 2018," Chairman of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah said in his speech at the 18th Asian Games opening ceremony at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Saturday, August 18.         High officials of the two Koreas also harmoniously stood together to support their joint team in the matches.

ASIAN GAMES 2018 TO BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON AUG 18

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 17 (Antara) - Indonesia, which is hosting the 18th Asian Games 2018, will officially open the biggest Asian sporting event at the Bung Karno Main Sport Stadium in Jakarta on Saturday evening.              The past couple of days have seen a variety of sports competitions across soccer, basketball, water polo, paragliding and handball, ahead of the official opening.              To be attended by 45 countries from August 18 to September 2, the 18th Asian Games 2018 will feature 462 events across 40 sports, of which 32 are Olympic sports and eight are non-Olympic sports. The organizers hope the sports events will attract some five billion spectators from across the world.               "We are targeting five billion pairs of eyes from around the world that will watch the Asian Games," Danny Buldansyah, media and PR director of INASGOC (Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee), noted at a Media Personnel Technical Coordination meeting in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, on Friday (August 3)     This year will be the second time that Indonesia is hosting the Asian Games. It hosted the Asian sporting event for the first time in 1962, the fourth one after the Asian Games were first held in New Delhi, India, in 1951.

TRANSJAKARTA OFFERS FREE SERVICES DURING ASIAN GAMES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 14 (Antara) - The Jakarta regional government-owned transportation firm PT Transjakarta will maximize its bus services by increasing the number of its buses to 1,750 units and providing free tickets for athletes and the public during the 18th Asian Games 2018.          "During the Asian Games, we provide free Transjakarta bus services for athletes and officials who want to travel for sightseeing and shopping in the city of Jakarta," President Director of PT Transjakarta, Budi Kaliwono said in Jakarta on Monday (Aug 13).          The free service is offered based on the directions of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to provide free services to the public in order to encourage them to use public transportation.          "Of course, with free services, the public will be encouraged to use Transjakarta buses to watch matches during the 2018 Asian Games," Public Relations Officer of PT Transjakarta, Wibowo, stated.          Previously, Baswedan noted that people who want to watch the 2018 Asian Games could enjoy free Transjakarta bus services on certain days from Aug 17 to Sept 2, 2018.

PALEMBANG READY TO HOST ASIAN GAMES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 13 (Antara) - The South Sumatran provincial capital of Palembang, which will co-host the 18th Asian Games together with Jakarta next month, is now ready for the largest Asian sporting event.         In order to ascertain its readiness to host the sporting events, President Joko Widodo, who is commonly known as Jokowi, inspected the sports facilities and venues in the city on Friday.          South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin greeted Jokowi upon his arrival, after which the president proceeded to the Jakabaring Sport Arena. As part of his trip to Palembang, the president is also expected to inaugurate the rowing track for the Asian Games in Jakabaring.          According to Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimoeljono, all venues for the 2018 edition of the games in Jakabaring Sport City have been completed and are now ready to host the sporting events.         "We have conducted a final check today, and all venues are already completed," Hadimoeljono remarked on Friday. "President Joko Widodo is scheduled to inaugurate them on July 14."      Hadimoeljono, who is also the chairman for infrastructure of the 2018 Asian Games organizing committee, revealed that the government has readied 14 sports venues in Jakabaring Sport City.           The PUPR Ministry carried out the construction and renovation of three venues -- the shooting range and the rowing and skateboarding venues -- among the 14 venues within Jakabaring Sport City.        "The total cost to the state budget was around Rp600 to 700 billion," Hadimoeljono noted.           Basuki said President Jokowi is scheduled to inaugurate three venues -- those for rowing, skateboard, and bowling -- on Saturday, July 14. The special bowling facility is the corporate social responsibility project of Sinarmas and Pertamina companies.           The 14 venues include a shooting range, a rowing center, a skateboard field, a beach volleyball court, the Sriwijaya Sports Stadium, the Bumi Sriwijaya Sports Stadium, a tennis stadium, the Lake Side venue, the Jakabaring/Triathlon venues, the aquatic stadium, an athletics venue, a lake sports venue, a climbing sport venue, and a roller blade venue.          "Jokowi is also scheduled to open the 2018 Presidential Dragon Boat Championship to be hosted by the Executive Board of the Indonesian Rowing Sports Association on July 12 to 15," Hadimoeljono stated.          During his observation tour of the South Sumatran Province, the President also reviewed the light-weight train or light rail transit (LRT) project which was constructed to serve the transportation needs of Asian Games athletes and officials as well as locals during the sports events.          The LRT will initially be used as a means of transportation for participants of the Asian Games from August to September.      In addition to assessing the readiness of a number of facilities and sports arenas for the games, the President will also review the labor-intensive program in one of the districts in South Sumatra during his two-day working visit to Palembang.          Meanwhile, House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo has asked the Indonesia 2018 Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) to sell tickets at more affordable prices.              "We hope INASGOC will lobby the Asian Olympic Council (OCA) regarding the prices of tickets for the Asian Games," Soesatyo said in Jakarta on Friday.           The House Speaker made the remarks in response to INASGOC Chairman Erick Thohir's statement that the committee will sell tickets for the opening of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta on August 18.           Ticket prices vary between Rp750 thousand and Rp5 million. Erick said prices for the Asian Games opening ceremony are based on standards set by the OCA.            Soesatyo, who is commonly known as Bamsoet, appealed to INASGOC not to sell tickets for the opening ceremony at very expensive prices.          "Affordable ticket prices will make support for other Asian countries more vibrant and will encourage the community to participate actively in supporting the successful implementation of the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia," he said.           Indonesia will host the Asian Games for the second time this year, after Jakarta was selected as the venue for the Asian sporting event for the first time in 1962. By virtue of its hosting of the 2018 games, the country aims to secure a place among the top ten largest sporting events.            The games will be attended by 45 countries, and will feature 462 events in 40 sports, of which 32 are Olympic sports and eight are non-Olympic events.            The Olympic sports are Aquatics, Athletics, Fencing, Weightlifting, Basketball, Handball, Badminton, Baseball/Softball, Cycling, Equestrian, Golf, Wrestling, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Canoeing and Kayaking, Sailing, Shooting, Modern Pentathlon, Archery, Sport Climbing, Rowing, Rugby, Gymnastics, Roller Skate, Football, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Boxing, Triathlon, and Volleyball.             The non-Olympic sports are Bowling, Bridge, Cricket, Kabaddi, Martial Arts (including Jujitsu, Kurash, Pencak Silat, Sambo, and Wushu), Mechanical Sports (such as Paragliding and Jetskiing), Squash, and Sepak Takraw.***4***(A014/INE)EDITED BY INE/H-YH (T.A014/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 13-07-2018 23:24:

INDONESIA ORGANIZES FUN RUN TO PROMOTE ASIAN GAMES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 3 (Antara) - In order to promote the 18th Asian Games 2018, Indonesia on Sunday organized a fun run race in Jakarta and Palembang cities which will host the biggest Asian sporting events from August 18 to September 20, 2018.         Some eight thousand residents in the two cities took part in the fun run which was the 27th fun run event after 26 other Asian countries had also previously organized the same events to promote the Asian Games.          "Thank God, the promotion is being done well and made for a warming up to create a 'fever' for the Asian Games. We have been launching a popularization program among the Indonesian people as a message that we are going to host the biggest Asian sporting events next August,"  Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani said when flagging of the race at the Plaza Barat of the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Jakarta on Sunday..          Hence,  Minister Puan Maharani called on the people to continue to echo the Asian Games 2018 which will be held in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta and South Sumatran provincial capital of Palembang.

RI TAKING STEPS TO PREVENT HAZE DURING ASIAN GAMES

by Andi Abdussalam

by Andi Abdussalam    Jakarta, June 23 (Antara) - Indonesia, which will host the 18th Asian Games, has since recently been making efforts to prevent forest fires, in order to prevent haze from hindering the major sporting events.         The Asian Games will be held in the capital city Jakarta and South Sumatra's provincial capital Palembang from Aug 18 to Sept 2. Therefore, many of the efforts to fight haze are being made in South Sumatra.          The provincial government of South Sumatra continues to maximize the efforts to prevent forest and land fires by preventing the occurrence of hotspots, especially in flammable areas, ahead of the 2018 Asian Games.           Head of South Sumatra's Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Iriansyah, stated in Palembang on Friday that it regularly monitors the possibility of the emergence of hotspots by maximizing patrols in the hope that the Asian Games would not be disrupted.          Land and air patrols continue to be maximized, so that hotspots would not occur, he noted.          He added that that if hotspots arise, especially in the peatlands, it would be difficult to prevent fires.

HOSTS READY TO ENSURE SECURITY FOR ASIAN GAMES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 25 (Antara) - Security is a very important issue for foreigners in a country hosting an international event like the 18th Asian Games.          Hence, Jakarta and Palembang will ensure the 3,200 foreign athletes and officials from more than 40 countries feel secure and can concentrate on the competition.          The Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INASGOC) will involve more than 30,000 police personnel in four regional divisions --  Polda Metro Jaya (Jakarta Regional Police), South Sumatra Regional Police, West Java Regional Police, and Banten Regional Police.          The number of personnel to be deployed will depend on the security needs, including at event venues and non-competition arenas such as the athletes' hotels.      INASGOC is also working with TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces) Headquarters, especially the women's corps of the Army, Navy and Air Force.          "We are committed to ensuring security in the Jakarta area during the 2018 Asian Games," said the Deputy Governor of Jakarta, Sandiaga Uno, on May 14.

INDONESIA RACES AGAINST TIME TO READY ASIAN GAMES VENUES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 28 (Antara) - With less than four months left, Indonesia is racing against time to complete all sports venues for the 18th Asian Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, on August 18-September 2, 2018.          "All venues must be completed by the end of June based on the schedule. What has been done until now and what is yet to be completed are still in accordance with the plan," Vice President Jusuf Kalla noted while reviewing the yachting venue at the Ancol Marina Beach, North Jakarta, on Friday afternoon.          Vice President Kalla, who is also chairman of the 18th Asian Games Steering Committee, visited several venues for the Asian Games in Jakarta and Bekasi. Developers of all venues of the largest Asian sporting event that Kalla visited have made assurance that they will be ready in mid-June.          "All developers of the venues we reviewed have promised to make them ready based on the schedule, and we will see that they are all ready on time, though some construction work is behind schedule," he revealed.

EYEING SIXTH PLACE IN ASIAN GAMES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 27 (Antara) - The 18th Asian Games, to be held in Jakarta and Palembang in August 2018, is a mega sporting event in which some 45 countries will compete to showcase their superiority in sports.           Indonesia is poised to stand in the top 10, but a professor of sports said he would like to see Indonesia to secure the sixth ranking.          Indonesia should be able to finish in the sixth place in line with its target to emerge as one of the top 10 winners in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta this year.          Prof. James Tangkudung of the Jakarta State University stated in Jakarta on Monday that the trust placed on Indonesia to host the Asian Games 2018 should serve as a momentum to boost the nation's achievements in sports.         "The improved achievement in sports will be significant if Indonesia, as a major country and once a Southeast Asian sporting giant, is capable of beating Thailand in the 2018 Asian Games," he remarked.          The target of beating Thailand, which finished in sixth place in the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea, should serve as a motivation for all sports stakeholders in the country to improve achievements in sports at this year's 18th Asian Games.

INASGOC PREPARING LIVE BROADCAST FOR ASIAN GAMES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta,  March 15  (Antara) - The  Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INASGOC)  is preparing facilities for broadcasting live of sport events of the Asian Games in Jakarta, Palembang and in a number of locations in West Java next August.              "We have to provide at least two cabins for the production of television live broadcasts in every game arena because a number of sports have a lot of events like athletics," said INASGOC Broadcasting Director Linda Wahyudi in Jakarta on Thursday (March 15).              As a means of supporting direct broadcast facility, the live television production cabin, according to Linda, is more needed rather than the outdoor broadcasting van (OB Van) or  Satellite News Gathering  (SNG) cars.              Linda said each television production cabin can accommodate broadcast production from five to 10 cameras. While the sports branches with a lot of matches such as athletics require up to 20 cameras for the production of television broadcasts.              "We are also setting up a number of cabins on the track discipline cycling race located at Jakarta's Rawamangun Velodrome and discipline road race. For downhill and BMX disciplines, we will only provide SNG cars," Linda said.

INDONESIA PREPARING SECURITY MEASURES FOR ASIAN GAMES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 14 (Antara) - Indonesia, which will be receiving about 3,200 athletes and officials from more than 40 countries, is preparing measures to ensure security when it hosts the biggest Asian sporting events next September.          Indonesia will organize the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and South Sumatran Province's capital city of Palembang from Sept 18 to Aug 2, 2018.         In order to provide security for foreign guests, the Indonesia Asian Games 2018 Organizing Committee  (INASGOC) will involve more than 30 thousand police personnel in four Regional Police Divisions. "The number of personnel to be deployed will be in accordance with security needs, including security in the game fields and non-match arena such as the athletes' homesteads and hotels," Deputy IV of INASGOC Senior Commissioner Unggul Sedyantoro, stated in Jakarta on Tuesday (Feb 13).          The four regional police divisions which will be involved in securing the implementation of the Asian Games in August are Polda Metro Jaya (Jakarta Regional Police), South Sumatra Regional Police, West Java Regional Police, and Banten Regional Police.

OCA DECIDES TO INCLUDE DOUBLE-TRAP EVENTS IN ASIAN GAMES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 13 (Antara) - The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has decided to include two double-trap events in the shooting branch to be competed in the 2018 Asian Games.          OCA made the decision following its negotiations with the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) 2018 on the sports events to be competed in Asia¿s biggest sporting competition.          Indonesia will host the Asian Games 2018 in two cities of Jakarta and Palembang (South Sumatra) from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.          "The double-trap events are included in the Asian Games even though it is not included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games. Asia is still number one in double-trap shooting event," OCA Asian Games Department Director, Haider Farman, said on the sidelines of a meeting of the Asian Games' contingent commanders in Jakarta on Wednesday.          Haider stated that there were no more negotiations with INASGOC on the number of sports to be contested at the meeting, because the double-trap event was a proposed event of OCA, which was sourced from proposals by other contingents of other Asian Games participating countries.          OCA Honorary Vice President Wei Jizhong noted that INASGOC will immediately continue with the preparations for the Asian Games without any more planning and discussion. "We have completed all the planning and will work together," Jizhong remarked.

INDONESIA UNLIKELY TO CHANGE ASIAN GAMES EVENTS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Nov 29 (Antara) - Indonesia, as the host of the 18th Asian Games, has a chance to arrange a strategy to win as many medals as possible.          Indonesia has proposed to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) that it would compete in a total of 40 sports branches with 462 events in the biggest Asian sporting festivities, which will be organized in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra, next year.         Of course, Indonesia has been predicted to contribute medals in selected sports branches and events in the competitions, which will take place from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.         Minister of Youth and Sports Imam Nahrawi, OCA, and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, in his capacity as the 18th Asian Games Steering Committee chairman, have all agreed that the number of sports branches and events will no longer be increased.         Based on the agreement, the government has decided the budget for organizing the sports festivities, including the construction of venues in accordance with the sports events that have been agreed with the OCA.         Hence, it is unlikely for Indonesia to change and increase the number of sports events as requested by OCA recently. The council has asked Indonesia to change nine sports events and add two more.