Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has officially sent off the nation’s 2025 Southeast Asian Games contingent as the delegation prepares to depart for Thailand, where the region’s premier sporting event will open on December 9. Speaking at the State Palace in Jakarta, Prabowo called on athletes to compete with discipline, courage and humility, stressing that representing the country on an international stage is both an honour and a responsibility.

He voiced confidence that the team would return home with strong results.

Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir confirmed that the delegation consists of 1,021 athletes, making it the fourth-largest team at the event after host nation Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Thohir noted that every athlete had undergone rigorous selection and centralised training to ensure peak readiness across all sports.

Indonesia aims to match or surpass its performance at the previous Games in Cambodia, where the national team earned a significant medal haul.

Prabowo also acknowledged the hardships faced by Indonesians in recent weeks, including flooding and landslides in Sumatra, urging the athletes to draw strength from the nation’s resilience.

The send-off ceremony reflected a unified national spirit, with leadership emphasising that participation in the Games stands as a symbol of perseverance and pride.

As Thailand prepares to host what is expected to be the largest SEA Games edition to date, Indonesia enters the competition with firm backing from its government and high expectations from supporters at home.