Jakarta. The Indonesian contingent for the 2023 multi-sport SEA Games in Cambodia will comprise 599 athletes, 100 more from the last edition in Vietnam, a minister said on Monday.

“This a joint decision after more than a year. The surge in the number of athletes in the contingent cannot be avoided," newly-appointed Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo said in a statement published on the ministry’s website.

The 599 Indonesian athletes will compete in 31 of the total 36 sports events.

Indonesia was ranked third in the last SEA Games in Vietnam under the host country and Thailand by grabbing 69 gold medals, 91 silver medals, and 136 bronze medals.

"We will send 100 more athletes because the SEA Games in Cambodia will play more group sporting events," Dito added.

Hockey, cricket, and water polo weren’t played in Hanoi but they will become medal events in Cambodia, he said. The three events combined require 94 athletes to participate. 

"It’s been two weeks since I became the sports minister but today we finalized [the contingent] after an agreement by the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry, the National Olympic Committee, and KONI [the Indonesian National Sports Committee]," Dito said.

The Indonesian contingent, including 220 female athletes, targets to win at least 60 gold medals in Cambodia, he said.