Jakarta (ANTARA) - Talent guide in the Indonesian Volley Ball Association Executive Board's (PP PBVSI's) national team selection Gugi Gustaman expects Indonesia's volleyball national team to maintain the medal-winning tradition in the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.
"We bear quite a heavy burden at the SEA Games, as we have to maintain an achievement at a championship, especially in another nation," he stated through the Youth and Sports Ministry's website on Saturday.
According to the SEA Games lottery results, the Indonesian men's volleyball national team will join Group A with the host, Myanmar, and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the women's team will face off against Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Gustaman admitted that Indonesia faces a tough opponent since it is in the same group as the host.
Related news: Promotion, degradation still apply to priority DBON sports branches
Even so, the volleyball legend from the 70s-80s is still certain that the national team is capable of defending its medal in the multi-event in the Southeast Asian region.
"However, I am optimistic, and we have to defend it whether we want to or not, because the volleyball SEA Games is already taken by Indonesia," he remarked.
The players that will represent Indonesia in the Vietnam SEA Games will be the best players that are capable of bringing out optimal performance, especially since Indonesia has a pretty good track record in Southeast Asia.
"In this SEA Games, the Indonesian (men's team) still gather the most gold medals after Thailand. Let us hope that the children can achieve the best result," Gustaman affirmed.
Related news: Ministry ensures athletes sent to 31st SEA Games secure medals
The Indonesian men's volleyball team currently has the second-highest number of gold medal collection, reaching 10, ever since it participated in the SEA Games in 1977.
In the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, the Indonesian men's volleyball team also managed to successfully bag a gold, ending the eight-year wait or four editions of the SEA Games.
Meanwhile, in the women's category, the nation only managed to bring home a bronze medal after losing to Thailand and Vietnam that bagged gold and silver respectively.
The women's national team once managed to win a gold during the 1983 SEA Games.
Indonesia still lost to Thailand that pocketed 14 gold during the nation's participation in the region's championship.
Related news: Two Indonesian soldiers injured after being shot in Papua ambush
Related news: Jokowi to spend end of Ramadan in Yogyakarta
