Indonesian men’s lifter Eko Yuli Irawan has confirmed that the 2024 Paris Olympics will be his last chance to appear at the world’s highest sporting championship.
“This (2024 Paris Olympics) is the last Olympics for me if you look at the competition now,” said Eko Yuli Irawan in a press release from the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), Wednesday (3/4).
Eko confirmed that he would qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics following appearing at the World Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand, Tuesday (2/4).
Indonesia’s top lifter managed to complete the snatch lift of 133 kilograms but did not complete the clean and jerk lift perfectly because the knee injury he experienced had not healed completely.
This achievement gave Eko the opportunity to appear at the Olympics for the fifth time, following previously taking part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Eko said that various countries such as China, Malaysia and Thailand also used this world championship as their national selection event to determine the best athletes who might qualify.
Also read: Eko Yuli admits that his preparations for the World Weightlifting Championship are only 90 percent complete
Therefore, the 34 year old lifter chose to play it safe in order to secure a position to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Alhamdulillah, I am grateful that God Almighty has given me the opportunity to take part in the Olympics once more for the fifth time,” said Eko.
Furthermore, Eko said, in the next few months, he will focus on recovering from his knee injury so he can give his best performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I want to recover my knee first, I want to try to recover first, there are still 3 months ahead. The knee recovery can be completed so that later in Paris 2024 I can play more freely and optimally so that the results can be maximized,” he concluded.
KOI noted that, to date, eight Indonesian athletes have been confirmed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, namely weightlifter Eko Yuli Irawan, archery athlete Arif Dwi Pangestu and Diananda Choirunisa, rock climbing athlete Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi and Rahmad Adi Mulyono, gymnast athlete Rifda Irfanaluthfi, shooting athlete Fathur Gustafian, and surfing athlete Rio Waida. (Ant/Z-1)
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