JAKARTA, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government on Tuesday raised its medal target for the ongoing Asian Games, with the country's contingent having so far secured more medals than expected.
Indonesia's Vice President Jusuf Kalla revealed that he was upbeat that the country would break into the top five or even the top four of the medal rankings for the Games, which got underway in the capital Jakarta on August 18 and will finish on September 2.
These expectations are higher than the initial estimate of merely finishing inside the top ten. Kalla noted Indonesia had already secured 24 gold medals, exceeding the initial target of 16, seeing the country currently sitting firmly in fourth place.
"I hope the number [of medals] will edge up to 25. This is incredible," Kalla said at the vice presidential office, making reference to the country's comparatively lowly 17th place ranking at the previous Asian Games in South Korea.
In addition to their 24 golds, Indonesian athletes have also secured 18 silver medals and 29 bronze medals at the 2018 Games.
According to the country's youth and sport ministry, hosts Indonesia have around 800 athletes competing in all sports staged at the Asiad.
Data from the Olympic Council of Asia revealed that 11,300 athletes from 45 national and regional Olympic committees are competing in 465 events across 40 sports and disciplines at the Games.?
