The duel between Rahmat and Rizki that should never happen again...

“Come on, Rahmat, come on!”

Supportive voices echoed in the national weightlifting training center at Mess Kwini, Jakarta, on Wednesday (20/8/2025) afternoon, as Rahmat Erwin Abdullah was about to compete. However, what transpired on the competition platform felt brief, lasting even less than 10 seconds.

Rahmat knelt there. His second attempt at the 155-kilogram snatch failed again. He managed to lift the barbell overhead, but he couldn't maintain it in a standing position.

Rahmat's hands struggled to hold the weight of the barbell until he eventually threw it behind him. Rahmat, who weighs 78.93 kilograms, attempted to lift the load in the 79-kilogram class, and nearly fell to the ground.

On his first snatch attempt, Rahmat could only lift the barbell to his chest. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist then dropped the barbell while attempting to lift it overhead.

In fact, 155 kilograms isn't a difficult weight for Rahmat to lift. While competing in the 73 kilogram class, he even managed a snatch lift of up to 160 kg. This achievement occurred at the 2024 Weightlifting World Cup in Phuket, Thailand.

Rahmat has even been able to lift 155 kg since 2022 when competing in the 73 kg class at the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam. That lift broke the SEA Games record and helped him secure a gold medal.

However, the situation is different. Rahmat is not competing in an international event such as the SEA Games or the World Cup. Rahmat is participating in the national selection for the SEA Games Thailand 2025. His opponent? Another top male lifter from Indonesia, Rizki Juniansyah.

For an athlete of Rahmat's caliber, an Olympian and world record holder in the clean and jerk in the 73 kg and 81 kg classes, selection was actually unnecessary. However, selection was ultimately held because Rahmat had to "duel" with Rizki Juniansyah to be the best athlete to represent Indonesia in the 79 kg class at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.

The duel was won by Rizki, who had already set a weight of 157 kg on his first snatch attempt and completed it convincingly. The 73 kg gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics also completed a second snatch of 162 kg without any problems before opting not to lift on his final attempt.

In the clean and jerk, Rizki's performance became even more intense. The Mess Kwini gym, filled with cheers and cheers for Rizki, seemed to add to the Banten lifter's strength. He was able to lift 190 kg, 200 kg, and even 205 kg.

All of those generations were concluded with such emotion. Rizki shouted, expressing joy as if he had just won a championship title at a prestigious event. Indeed, this "duel" is quite prestigious even though what is at stake is "only" a spot in the SEA Games.

The battle between the two best lifters in Indonesia and even the world goes beyond just securing a spot in the 79 kg class at the SEA Games. This duel seems to echo a similar contest from a year ago when Rahmat and Rizki competed for a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The duel that many have referred to as the most dramatic fight and the most heartbreaking moment in the world of weightlifting had to take place because Rahmat and Rizki are in the same weight class, namely 73 kg. Meanwhile, there is only one ticket in the 73 kg category for Indonesia to go to Paris.

In fact, Rahmat and Rizki are two weightlifting gems in the 73 kg class. Their potential has been evident for a long time. Both athletes have also become the two strongest lifters in the world in that category. This is evidenced by their dominance at the top of the Olympic qualification ranking list.

As if the duel just a year ago wasn't enough, a similar fight had to happen again. Nearly the same scene repeated itself. Rahmat was already certain to lose after deciding not to lift on his third snatch attempt and not taking any chances in the clean and jerk.

As for Rizki, although he emerged as the winner after recording a total of 367 kg, he stated that the duel should not have taken place. From the beginning, Rahmat and Rizki should have been separated considering that both had the potential to win medals.

Moreover, this competition indirectly ignites rivalry not only within the arena of the race. "We both have good performances, so the hope is that we can part ways from the beginning. We should not let it happen again as it has in the past, where we, from the same country, have to compete. It creates discomfort, jealousy, and resentment among us. I cannot deny that such feelings certainly exist," Rizki stated.

"Let's not talk about the Olympics yet, let's talk about the SEA Games first. It would be better if it was already decided. After all, in my opinion, whether it's the 79 kg or 88 kg class, the potential for gold is the same," he said later.

Since June 2025, weightlifting has implemented a new weight category change consisting of eight classes, including 60 kilograms, 65 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, 88 kg, 98 kg, 110 kg, and +110 kg. This number is fewer than the previous categories, which consisted of 10 classes, ranging from 55 kg, 61 kg, 67 kg, 73 kg, 81 kg, 89 kg, 96 kg, 102 kg, 109, and +109 kg.

Rizki and Rahmat are both top Indonesian male weightlifters in the 73 kg weight class. They also hold the world record in this weight class. Rahmat holds the clean and jerk record with 205 kg, while Rizki holds the total lift record with 365 kg.

In several instances, they are usually separated by class to expand the medal potential for Indonesia. In the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, for example, Indonesia was able to secure two gold medals from Rizki and Rahmat. Rizki won the gold medal in the 73 kg class, while Rahmat secured the gold medal in the 81 kg class.

After the class change, both Rahmat and Rizki are targeting to compete in the 79 kg category. Their preference for this weight class is understandable. This class is the most feasible for both athletes to participate in compared to moving down to a lighter class (71 kg) or up to a heavier class (88 kg).

If competing in the 88 kg class, Rahmat or Rizki must increase their weight by up to 15 kg. Not only that, they also have to compete with lifters from Europe and South America who are physically superior and often dominate the heavyweight class.

The change in weight class, which was initially thought to provide hope for the separation of Rahmat and Rizki, has instead continued to pose a dilemma. If either Rahmat or Rizki were to drop to the 71 kg class, many coaches believe it would not be feasible. The reason is that both lifters have tall physiques, making it generally difficult to compete in lower weight classes due to the differences in body proportions and the biomechanical advantages held by athletes with shorter statures.

Moreover, among the 71 kg, 79 kg, and 88 kg classes, there is a possibility that the weight category contested at the Olympics will only be the 79 kg class. If this possibility materializes, a duel will certainly occur again.

Djoko Pramono, Secretary General of the Indonesian Weightlifting Association, stated that the national selection was actually the federation's solution because both athletes insisted on competing in the 79 kg class. According to Djoko, a platform match is the fairest way to determine who qualifies to compete in that class.

"Indeed, the hope is that it does not come to a duel. However, they also have considerations to insist on the 79 kg class. Therefore, let us determine it through a duel with the condition that the loser must graciously compete in another class. Thus, for Rahmat, this is not the end of the world," said Djoko.

"After this, I will call Rahmat and his coach to determine which class he will compete in, whether it will be at 71 kg or 88 kg. For me, regardless of the class, both have the potential for medals," he stated.

The problem is that last year's "duel" for the ticket to Paris 2024 has proven that the heaviest heartbreak can come from anywhere, including the sports arena. Will we experience heartbreak again if these two best lifters have to compete against each other and defeat one another, even though their goal is to represent Indonesia?