Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
Eko Yuli Irawan
with a bronze medal on the podium in the 65 kilogram weightlifting class
SEA Games 2025
Thailand, Sunday (14/12).
For some, bronze may feel like a downgrade.This is because Eko is synonymous with gold medals.However, for Eko, this is actually another marker.
Indeed, the bronze medal in Thailand ended Eko’s gold streak at the SEA Games since the 2019 edition in the Philippines.Overall, Eko collected seven gold, two silver and one bronze.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
This Lampung-born lifter won the seven gold medals at the 2007 SEA Games (56 kg), 2009 (62 kg), 2011 (62 kg), 2013 (62 kg), 2019 (61 kg), 2021 (61 kg), and 2023 (62 kg).
In the match at Chon Buri Sports Schools, the lifter born in 1989 recorded a total lift of 304 kilograms.Results from 138 kilograms snatch and 166 kilograms clean and jerk.
This figure puts Eko in third position.Home lifter Patsaphong Tongsuk won gold (307 kilograms) and silver went to Malaysian representative Muhamad Aznil Bidin (306 kilograms).
The difference is only two kilograms of silver and four kilograms of gold.A distance that, according to Eko, is still very possible to be achieved.”The difference is slight,” said Eko to Antara.
The competition in Eko Yuli’s class is no longer the same.Young faces emerged, some born in 2005, at that time Eko was still a teenager and just making his way in the world of weightlifting.
Regarding age, Eko emphasized that he was never burdened.The facts in Chonburi are a reflection.At the age of 36, Eko is still in the top three, even if his condition has not fully recovered.
In the last year, Eko’s focus has not been on pursuing maximum lift, but on recovering his injured knee.The training program was carried out more carefully.
“For the class itself, it is still at 90 percent, not yet optimal, but the condition of the knee has almost recovered, there are no problems,” said Eko when met at the medal ceremony.
Eko’s performance progress is clearly visible.From the Asian Championships to the World Championships in Norway, the total force has crept up.From previously 300 kilograms, now it is 304 kilograms at the 2025 SEA Games.
After the SEA Games, Eko’s gaze turned to the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.He doesn’t want to just show up.He wants to measure whether he still deserves to be in Asia’s elite circle.
Strong lifters from China, South Korea and North Korea await.Competition will be much tougher.Eko is well aware of this.However, there was no fear in his heart.
“We’ll see what the competition is like. If we can still get into the top five, then we’ll try to qualify for the Olympics,” he said very confidently.There is not the slightest doubt.
Regarding the opportunity to appear at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Eko chose to be realistic.He understands that selection knows no compromise.If he really loses the competition, Eko is ready to resign.
Eko wants to appear for the fifth time at the world’s biggest sporting event, after previously competing in Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Of the four editions, he contributed two bronze (Beijing and London) and two silver (Rio and Tokyo) for Indonesia.Eko has not won the only gold medal.
“If there is a replacement, the quality must be clear. I have always taught juniors
beat it
senior first.”If I am defeated, I will resign myself,” he said.
Like the world’s great athletes who refuse to submit to age, Eko believes that as long as the body and spirit are still willing to fight, the journey is not finished.
[Gambas:hitclubapk3 Video]
(rhr)
Read More: BAM After Malaysia Fails at the SEA Games: We Still Need Rexy Mainaky
