Australia supports Indonesia’s next generation of weightlifters

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty, visited the Bekasi Weightlifting Centre today to hand over a grant for A$ 30,000 to purchase new weightlifting equipment and help to renovate the centre’s facilities.

The Bekasi Weightlifting Centre is run by former Indonesian Olympic weightlifters Coach Sodikin and his wife, Ni Made Widyani, who developed the weightlifting centre as a way to share their experience and expertise with the next generation of athletes.

“The Australian Government is happy to be able to help support such a worthwhile community program, which aims to improve the health and fitness of Indonesian youth,” said Ambassador Moriarty.

“The Bekasi Weightlifting Centre is an impressive example of a community based training venue that has the potential to produce more regional, national and international standard lifters.”

The Centre has already produced very talented athletes, including 2012 Olympians Mohammad Hasbi and Deni, as well as Youth Olympics bronze medallist Dewi Safitri.

Coach Sodikin, who represented Indonesia at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games, believes Bekasi weightlifters have a bright future and will be helped by the Australian development grant.

The Centre is a focal point for athletes in Bekasi who want to become involved in the sport of weightlifting and for those who want to exercise to keep fit. There are over 100 junior lifters now training at Bekasi.

Indonesia confirmed its position as a rising power in International weightlifting with a strong showing at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Indonesia’s weightlifting team were responsible for both medals the country won at the Olympics with Triyatno winning silver in the Men’s 69 Kilogram class and Eko Yuli winning bronze in the men’s 62 kilogram class.

The $30,000 funding for the grant was made possible through the Australian government’s Direct Aid Program which looks to promote sustainable community development initiatives that help communities boost their living standards.

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