體壇英語資訊：Indonesia aims for 20 golds from 14 sports in Asian Games

JAKARTA, May 23 -- Host Indonesia has been upbeat about its chances of obtaining 20 gold medals from 14 sports during the upcoming Asian Games this year in the country, a minister said here on Wednesday.

Sports other than those 14 also hold potential to contribute silver and bronze medals in the multisport regional event, said Imam Nahrawi, Indonesian youth and sport minister.

"There are a total of about 14 sports potentially contributing gold medals," he said at the vice-presidential office.

To reach the target, Indonesian athletes have had tryouts overseas and domestically with upbeat outcomes, said Nahrawi.

A total of 33 out of 40 sports to be staged and participated in by Indonesian athletes have taken part in friendlies, he added.

In the months ahead, other further tryouts will also be conducted to boost the performance of the Indonesian athletes, he said.

A total of about 11,000 athletes and officials will come into Indonesia to participate in the Asian Games.

Indonesia will send about 1,500 athletes and officials to the Games, saying that its athletes will participate in all sports, according to the Indonesian sport ministry.

Indonesia has confirmed that all the preparatory work will be fully completed in June.

The 18th Asian Games are scheduled to be held in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and in Palembang, the provincial capital of South Sumatra province from August 18 to September 2.