Beware of Thailand's Surprise in Southeast Asian Weightlifting

SLEMAN, KOMPAS — Indonesia has returned with achievements from two weightlifting championships at the Asian and world levels in the youth, junior, and senior categories. On the other hand, lifters from Southeast Asian countries, particularly Thailand as the host of the 2025 SEA Games, are also increasingly coming to the forefront. The development of lifters from neighboring countries should be closely monitored in the lead-up to the multi-sport event and the competition for the LA 2028 Olympics.

From the 2025 Asian Weightlifting Championship in Jiangshan, China, held from May 9 to 15, Indonesia brought home three gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals, won by Rahmat Erwin Abdullah, Rizki Juniansyah, and Juliana Klarisa. According to the final rankings released on Thursday (May 15, 2025) evening, Indonesia ranked seventh, flanked by Thailand and Vietnam.

Thailand ranks higher than Indonesia due to its achievement of three gold medals and three silver medals. Although the quantity is lower, the quality of Thailand's medals is better than that of Indonesia. Meanwhile, Vietnam secured two gold medals, three silver medals, and five bronze medals.

Thailand only sent a total of three weightlifters, while Indonesia sent a total of 10 weightlifters. Thailand's three gold medals came from the women's 49-kilogram class lifter, Sukcharoen Thanyathon.

In the women's 49 kg class, Indonesia does not have a representative. Indonesia once had Windy Cantika Aisah, who achieved a peak performance with a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Both Windy and other female lifters in that class have not been able to qualify for the next edition of the Olympics in Paris.

Indeed, the 73 kg or 81 kg class can be called the hell class.

One of Indonesia's female weightlifters who represents the hope for regeneration in this category is Luluk Diana Tri Wjayana (19). Luluk, who previously won three gold medals at the 2022 Youth World Championships and secured one gold medal at the 2025 Youth and Junior World Championships, is still competing in the junior category.

Meanwhile, in the women's 59 kg class, Indonesia sent Natasya Beteyob. In this class, Thailand through Suratwadee Yodsarn won three silver medals, while Natasya Beteyob finished sixth in the 115 kg clean and jerk. However, she failed in three snatch attempts.

In the past year, Thailand has surprised many with the emergence of male weightlifters from the Olympic qualification to the Olympic competition itself. One of them is the 73 kg weightlifter, Weeraphon Wichuma.

Wichuma has already captured attention since the Olympic qualification championships. When competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Wichuma, who was not yet 20 years old at the time, managed to win a silver medal. He was only defeated by Indonesia's star lifter, Rizki Juniansyah, who won gold.

In Paris, Mohammad Aniq actually had the opportunity to win a medal in the 61 kg category. Aniq's total lift was only one kilogram short of the bronze medalist, Hampton Morris, who recorded a total of 298 kg.

"It can indeed be said that the 73 kg or 81 kg class is a hellish class. Most of the lifters are from Asia, and now Southeast Asia, like Thailand, is also competing fiercely," said Rizki Juniansyah when met during the 2025 National Weightlifting Championship at the GOR Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Thursday (15/5/2025).

At the 2025 Junior and Youth World Championships in Lima, Peru, from April 30 to May 5, the situation is not much different. Other Southeast Asian countries, such as the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, also pose a threat.

From this event, in addition to one gold medal from Luluk Diana in the women's 49 kg category, Indonesia 'only' managed to secure three bronze medals from Alyamaulida Kartika Pertiwi in the 81 kg category. Indonesia sent 11 youth and junior lifters to Lima.

At the same time, the Philippines, strengthened by eight lifters, brought home eight gold medals, two silver, and two bronze. Two golds and one silver among them were achieved in the men's youth 49 kg category through the performance of Jay R Colonia. Indonesian athlete Alvin Saputra, competing in the same category, failed to break into the top three.

A similar situation occurred in the men's youth 55 kg class. Indonesian lifter, Kevin Andrian Ramadhan, failed to break into the top three, while Vietnamese lifter, Van The Hung, secured two silver medals.

In the junior girls' competition, Thailand emerged as the team with the best performance among other Southeast Asian countries, bringing home three gold medals, one silver, and two bronze. Thailand ranked second after China.

Indonesia is in 11th place thanks to one gold medal from Luluk. In fact, the strength of Indonesia and Thailand is balanced, with both having three junior female athletes.

The Secretary General of the Indonesian Weightlifting Association, Djoko Pramono, stated that the achievements of Indonesian lifters in the two championships are quite commendable. However, Djoko acknowledged that competition is becoming increasingly fierce among Southeast Asian countries.

"This achievement still requires improvement and needs to prepare for the 2028 Olympics, especially in the development of youth and juniors so as not to fall behind other developing countries. Even among Southeast Asian countries, we are now lagging behind, such as the Philippines, which has defeated us in two categories, as well as Vietnam and Thailand," said Djoko.

"This is our rival for the SEA Games, we can't be lazy anymore. Be careful, coaches and athletes," said Djoko.

In the previous SEA Games, Indonesia emerged as the overall champion after securing five gold medals, two silver medals, and four bronze medals. The competition involved Vietnam, which ranked second with four gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals. Following that, Thailand secured third place with two gold medals, seven silver medals, and one bronze medal. The Philippines ranked fourth with two gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal.

The 2025 SEA Games will be held in Thailand. It is not impossible that the host will prepare its best lifters to sweep the medals and enhance the competition with Indonesia.

At that time, athletes such as Weeraphon or the silver medalist in the 61 kg category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Theerapong Silachai, did not participate in the competition. In Paris, the 21-year-old Olympic debutant, Silachai, "snatched" the medal that was won by veteran Indonesian lifter Eko Yuli Irawan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Meanwhile, Eko was unable to bring home anything from Paris 2024 due to a thigh injury.

If Eko continues to compete in the upcoming SEA Games and Silachai competes in the same category as the veteran lifter, it is not impossible that he will become a threat once again. He could potentially disrupt Eko's dominance, who has already collected seven gold medals in the biennial multi-sport event.

However, Djoko is optimistic that the Indonesian lifters will prepare themselves as best as possible and maintain their superiority over neighboring countries. "The challenges for achievement are becoming increasingly difficult, especially after the Paris Olympic gold. However, this has always been a starting point for better development," he stated.