Poor performance at SEA Games 33, U22 Indonesia faces potential penalties

After U22 Indonesia’s underwhelming performance at SEA Games 33, the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports declared plans to sanction teams that do not achieve their set goals.

After the Indonesian sports delegation concluded SEA Games 33 with an impressive haul of 91 gold, 111 silver, and 131 bronze medals an unfortunate announcement came for the national U22 team. According to Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Surono, teams failing to meet targets, including U22 Indonesia, will be considered for disciplinary action.

In a media statement during the performance review meeting, Mr. Surono said the Indonesian government not only focuses on rewarding medal-winning athletes but will also take strong measures against teams performing below expectations.

“We have devised a detailed evaluation plan for each sport. Some teams exceeded targets, some met them, and others fell short. For each case, the Ministry will take clear actions—rewarding those who deserve it and disciplining those who fail to fulfill their duties,” Mr. Surono emphasized.

According to him, one of the disciplinary options under consideration is reducing or suspending training budgets for sports and teams that do not meet their targets. This measure is intended as a warning to federations and coaching staff who have not lived up to fan expectations.

“We will announce the details later, but the most important thing now is to maintain unity and sustainable development for Indonesian sports,” he added.

At SEA Games 33, the U22 Indonesia team disappointed by being eliminated in the group stageand failed to defend the gold medal they won two years ago. This outcome is considered a major setback in the overall success of Indonesian sports at this edition of the Games.

Nevertheless, experts believe the Indonesian Ministry of Youth and Sports’ “tough” approach is necessary, demonstrating professionalism in performance management and sending a clear message that every team must be accountable for their results.