Only Robi Syianturi Ran Fast, His Pants Didn't

Tuesday (9/12/2025) was a very special day for long-distance runner Robi Syianturi. For the first time, he was entrusted to carry the flag for the Indonesian contingent during the opening ceremony of the SEA Games in Thailand 2025. This special moment will be remembered for a lifetime, much like the absurd incident that occurred a few hours before the event.

On the evening before heading to Rajamangala Stadium, the venue for the opening ceremony, Robi first tried on his uniform at Rumah Indonesia. The house, located in the Sukhumvit area of downtown Bangkok, serves as the gathering point for the "Merah Putih" contingent during the SEA Games.

In a room measuring 5x5 meters, Robi was lounging on the bed. He appeared well-dressed in a white shirt, tie, and dress pants. When the journalists entered, Robi immediately stood up and extended his hand for a handshake. However, there was something unusual; one of the hands of the marathon specialist was gripping the top of his pants as tightly as possible.

Later, if you're overwhelmed (during the parade), we'll guard you from behind.

Tek. They finally found the reason why the 27-year-old athlete kept leaning on the mattress. Meanwhile, the other two athletes, Brayen Nathan Coolen and Samuel Maxson Septionus, were constantly standing to prevent their shirts or pants from wrinkling. It turned out that Robi's pants were too big. "They're too big, they're still waiting to be fixed," Robi said, blushing.

The excess size of the pants is quite significant. Robi's fist can fit into the pants, and there is still extra space. "I have indeed become thinner in Kenya. I lost up to five kilograms. Perhaps it is because of the heat, which causes me to sweat continuously," he said, having just returned from a training camp in Kenya.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became relaxed. The three athletes were from different sports. Robi was from athletics, Brayen from equestrian, while Samuel was from swimming. However, they could laugh freely due to the comedic situation. Brayen, who appeared "cool," even joined in the joking, saying, "Later, if you stumble (during the parade), we'll watch out for you from behind."

Robi once imagined what would happen if his pants fell down while he was carrying the flag. He certainly would not be able to adjust his pants position because both hands were on the flagpole. The runner said that he might go home and not compete because he would already feel embarrassed if that scenario occurred.

Kompas photographer Fakhri Fadlurrohman took the initiative to lend him his belt. Robi quickly accepted the offer. The national marathon record holder immediately put the belt around his waist. Relief was evident on his face. "Well, now I'm the one who's out of pocket," Fakhri joked.

Robi's problems did not stop there. After the pants, it was his shoes that were too big. The only available shoes were size 44, which was far from his ideal size of 39. Robi then chose to wear his own black sneakers, and the stylist nodded in agreement.

It turns out that not only Robi, but Brayen and Maxson also experienced a similar situation. Brayen borrowed a belt from his colleague, while Maxson improvised with a safety pin. "Before this (the pants I am wearing), I was given pants in size 40. They were way too big, ha-ha-ha," said Maxson, who has a very thin build.

Dear readers, Kompas daily is opening a Letters to Athletes column, which contains opinions, encouragement, or comments regarding the performance of Indonesian athletes at the 2025 SEA Games Thailand. Send your short comments, a minimum of two sentences and a maximum of six sentences, by filling in the column below. We will publish selected comments in Kompas daily during the 2025 SEA Games.