Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian veteran weightlifter Eko Yuli Irawan is projected to compete at the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled for September–October in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, marking his sixth appearance at the continental event.
Based on the athlete roster obtained by ANTARA in Jakarta on Sunday, the 37-year-old lifter is set to compete for a medal in the men’s 65 kg event, having made his Asian Games debut in Doha, Qatar, two decades ago.
In Doha in 2006, Eko represented Indonesia in the men’s 65 kg event and finished sixth with a total lift of 271 kilograms, comprising a 121-kg snatch and a 150-kg clean and jerk.
Returning for the subsequent edition in Guangzhou in 2010, the lifter secured his first Asian Games podium finish after recording a total lift of 311 kg (141-kg snatch, 170-kg clean and jerk) to claim a bronze medal.
Eko followed that up with another bronze medal in Incheon in 2014, where he lifted a total of 308 kg (142-kg snatch, 166-kg clean and jerk) in the same category.
He went on to reach a personal milestone on home soil at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, delivering Indonesia a gold medal after posting a total lift of 311 kg (141-kg snatch, 170-kg clean and jerk).
However, the athlete missed out on a podium finish at Hangzhou 2022 after failing all three clean and jerk attempts, bringing his medal streak since Guangzhou to an end.
Now, Eko has another opportunity to add to his Asian Games medal collection at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, alongside fellow Indonesian lifters Ricko Saputra (men’s 60 kg), Rahmat Erwin Abdullah (75 kg), and Rizki Juniansyah (85 kg).
In the women’s events, Indonesia will field Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana (49 kg), Juliana Klarisna (53 kg), Natasha Beteyob (61 kg), and Indah Afriza (69 kg).
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Translator: M. Ramdan, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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