Jakarta – Indonesian weightlifter Rizki Juniansyah received a notable honour Thursday, January 8, 2026, as President Prabowo Subianto bestowed upon him a promotion to Captain and a substantial financial reward for his achievements. The recognition follows Juniansyah’s gold medal performance and world record-breaking lift at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, underscoring the Indonesian government’s commitment to supporting its elite athletes and military personnel. The 22-year-old Olympian will also transfer branches within the Indonesian National Armed Forces, moving from the Navy to the Army.
Jakarta –
Weightlifter Rizki Juniansyah was deeply honored by a promotion bestowed upon him by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, viewing the recognition as a new challenge for his future.
Rizki received a government bonus for his gold medal performance and world record-breaking lift at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. The reward includes a substantial 1 billion Rupiah prize, as well as a promotion from Second Lieutenant to Captain. He has also been transferred from the Indonesian Navy (AL) to the Indonesian Army (AD).
The presentation took place during a ceremony honoring SEA Games medalists hosted by Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Rizki expressed immense pride in the trust placed in him by the President.
“I took a deep breath, this is a source of immense pride and honor. This is an extraordinary show of appreciation, not only for me but also for my fellow members of the TNI,” he said, as quoted by detikSport from the Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube channel.
“I was incredibly happy and moved to tears when the President announced it. I wasn’t aware beforehand, but I learned that I’m being transferred from the Navy, where I was commissioned on November 27th of last year, to the Army. Alhamdulillah, praise be to God,” said the 22-year-old weightlifter.
The Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist acknowledged that his new duties and rank will present challenges, but he is eager to prove himself.
Rizki already has a busy competition schedule ahead, including the Asian Championships in India from April 1-10, the World Cup in Samoa, and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
“This is a challenge for me, a difficult path. I must represent Indonesia, the TNI, the President and his administration, and, of course, weightlifting, which I will always champion. This is a new struggle for me moving forward,” Rizki stated.
(mcy/aff)
