Indonesia sets higher goal at Asian Games next year

Jakarta, March 20 : The Indonesian government has set a higher target at the Asian Games next year in the country after monitoring the progress of athletes. The government stepped up the target to 20 gold medals from the initial expectation of 15, Achmad Soetjipto, head of task force for the event said here on Monday.

"Indonesia has potential to secure gold medals at 20 sport numbers," he said. However, the officer declined to name the sports in which their athletes may triumph, reports Xinhua news agency.

Soetjipto said that the new projection was made based on the observation on progress of each athlete in each sport for one year.

Indonesia has expected the country to finish between 8th to 10th n the Asian Games, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Affairs Puan Maharani has said.

The Asian Games 2018 is scheduled to be held from August 18 to September 2nd in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta and Palembang city, the provincial capital of South Sumatra.

Indonesian athletes will vie in 44 sports, Sport Minister Imam Nahrawi has said.