First Medal for Indonesia in Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Jakarta, InfoPublik – Indonesian weightlifting prodigy Windy Cantika Aisah performed brilliantly during her first appearance in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.  The 19-year-old calmly paved the way for Indonesia’s success in the world’s most prestigious sporting event.

Windy Aisah took the bronze medal at the women’s 49kg competition by hoisting 194kg aggregate (84kg in snatch and 110kg in clean & jerk). With this result, the daughter of former national lifter Siti Aisah was recorded as the first athlete to contribute a medal for Indonesia at the Tokyo Olympics.

“Alhamdulillah, I am overjoyed to present a medal for Indonesia. I was nervous because there was only a slight difference in the total lift with the others, especially during the snatch. However, I tried to remain calm because there were only the athlete and barbell on the stage,” said Windy Aisah after the game in Tokyo, as reported by the Youth and Sports Ministry on Saturday (24 July).

Competing at Tokyo International Forum, Windy Aisah failed her first lift at 84kg snatch. However, she succeeded in her second attempt. Unfortunately, she also failed to lift 87kg at snatch in her third attempt.

In clean and jerk, Windy Aisah successfully lifted 103kg in her first attempt and 108kg in her second attempt. Despite trembling a little bit, she completed her third lift weighing 110kg and won the bronze medal with a total lift of 194kg.

Meanwhile, Chef de Mission of the Indonesian contingent for the Tokyo Olympics Rosan P Roeslani hoped the first medal can motivate other Indonesian athletes to demonstrate their best performance at the Olympic Games.

Roeslani, who also serves as Chairman of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting, and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI), expected Indonesia to have more medals with Eko Yuli Irawan has the potential of receiving gold in men’s 61kg on Sunday (25 July).

“Alhamdulillah, we had just participated in the opening ceremony yesterday, but Indonesian athlete Cantika managed to get a medal on the first day. Hopefully, our other athletes can create positive outcomes as well,” said Roeslani, who is also a candidate to be Indonesia’s ambassador to the United States.

“As PABBSI chairman, I am proud of the medal contributed by Windy Aisah, for she succeeded in continuing our tradition of contributing medals at the Olympics for the last 20 years. I am proud and hope that there will be other medals contributed by Indonesian Olympians,”.

The gold medal at women’s 49kg itself was taken by Chinese lifter Hou Zhihui with total lift of 210kg (94kg snatch and 116kg of clean & jerk). Whereas Indian lifter Chanu Saikhtom Mirabai received silver in the same category with a total of 202kg from 87kg snatch and 115kg of clean and jerk.

Reporter: Wandi

Translator: Wisnu Wardoyo