Feature Stories

Jusuf Kalla Shows his support for the Red-and-White team

Posted : 16 Nov 2011 14:58:38

Palembang (UR): Indonesian athletes at the 26^th SEA Games have another high-profile supporter: former vice president Jusuf Kalla was seen mingling with Indonesian athletes at several venues at the Jakabaring Sports Complex.

Kalla, who currently heads the Indonesian Red Cross, had lunch with athletes at the athletes’ village and spent two hours touring the complex. He also stopped by the Sriwijaya Promotion Center, the venue for the sepak takraw competition.

“He also visited the aquatic arena,” the chairman of the Indonesian Sepak Takraw Association’s (PSTI) South Sumatra branch, Hendri Zainuddin, said yesterday after welcoming Kalla.

At the sepak takraw venue, Kalla voiced his support for the Indonesian contingent as they faced Thailand in the final. For almost half an hour, Kalla watched the match accompanied by South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin, PSTI chairman Basri Sidehabi and Hendri.

“I’m sure Indonesia will become the overall winner at these Games,” Kalla said.

Indonesia has not topped the final medal standings at the SEA Games since 1997. “This is our biggest chance,” Kalla said.

Since first participating in the Games in 1977 until 1997, Indonesia has emerged as overall winner nine times, including topping the medal standings four times in a row in 1977 in Kuala Lumpur, in 1979 in Jakarta, in 1981 in Manila, and in 1983 in Singapore.