The Indonesian Rowing Association (PODSI) has announced its plan to prepare 24 rowing athletes to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The association hopes to achieve better results than the previous Olympics, where Indonesia failed to win any medals in rowing.
PODSI sets target for Paris 2024
According to PODSI chairman Raja Sapta Oktohari, the association has set a target of sending 12 men and 12 women rowers to the Paris 2024 Olympics. He said that PODSI has identified potential athletes from various regions, such as Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Bali, and Papua. He added that PODSI will also scout for new talents from other provinces.
PODSI has allocated a budget of Rp 60 billion (US$ 4.2 million) for the preparation of the rowing team for the next three years. Oktohari said that the budget will be used for training, equipment, coaching, and participation in international events. He also said that PODSI will collaborate with the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports to support the rowing team.
PODSI prepares for qualification events
Oktohari said that PODSI has mapped out the qualification events for the Paris 2024 Olympics. He said that the rowing team will compete in three stages of qualification: the 2023 World Rowing Championships, the 2023 Continental Qualification Regattas, and the 2024 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.
The 2023 World Rowing Championships will be the first opportunity for the rowing team to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The event will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, between 3-10 September 2023. The competition is open to all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) that have national Member Federations that are members of World Rowing. The top placed crews according to the qualification quota in each event will qualify the boats for their NOCs.
The second stage of qualification will be the 2023 Continental Qualification Regattas, which will provide opportunities for 64 athletes to qualify through four regattas: Asia/Oceania, Africa, Americas, and Europe. The regattas are open to NOCs from the respective continents that have not participated, not qualified any boats or qualified only one boat at the 2023 World Rowing Championships.
The third and final stage of qualification will be the 2024 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, which will take place in Lucerne, Switzerland, in May 2024 (exact date TBC). This will be the last chance for 96 athletes to secure their spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Any NOC can enter any event in which they have not already qualified. There are no limitations to the number of events an NOC can qualify for at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.
PODSI hopes for better performance in Paris 2024
Oktohari said that PODSI hopes that the rowing team will perform better in the Paris 2024 Olympics than in the previous Olympics. He said that PODSI aims to win at least one medal in rowing, which would be the first for Indonesia in the sport.
Indonesia has participated in rowing at the Olympics since 1988, but has never won a medal. The best result was a fourth-place finish in the men’s lightweight double sculls at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Indonesia sent four rowers, but none of them advanced to the finals.
Oktohari said that PODSI will learn from the experience of the Tokyo Olympics and improve the quality of the rowing team. He said that PODSI will provide the best facilities, equipment, and coaching for the rowers. He also said that PODSI will monitor the progress and performance of the rowers regularly.
Oktohari expressed his optimism that the rowing team will achieve the target of qualifying 24 athletes and winning a medal in the Paris 2024 Olympics. He said that PODSI will work hard to make the dream come true.
