Indonesia targets to rank among top 10 in 2018 Asiad

JAKARTA, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Host Indonesia has set a target to be among the top 10 countries and regions in the upcoming 2018 Asian Games (Asiad) by winning the largest number of gold medals, at least 20 golds.

The target was expressed by Indonesia Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who chairs the steering committee of Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASGOC) in his office here on Wednesday.

Jusuf called on all parties in Indonesia involved to take their utmost for the target at the continental sports gala held every four years.

"The nation's pride is in your hands. Best performance is nonnegotiable (to meet the target)," he said.

Indonesia ranked 17 in the last Asiad held in South Korea in 2014.

The 2018 Asiad was scheduled to be held in Indonesia's Jakarta and South Sumatra province's capital city of Palembang from August 18 to September 2 next year.

He added that renovations on sports venues in Jakarta's landmark stadium complex that would host the 2018 Asiad were 99 percent completed at present, would be ready for use next month.

And the renovation works in Palembang's Jakabaring sport complex were being accelerated at present, expected to be ready in June, he added.

The 2018 Asian Games will feature 40 sports, with an expected participation of over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions. Enditem