RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Fifteen-year-old table tennis player Michael Hartono is proving that ambition comes with sacrifice. The Lampung-born athlete is dedicating up to seven hours a day to training, determined to climb the world rankings and earn a place at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2026 in Dakar, Senegal.

Currently ranked 107th in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) U-15 category, Michael knows the path ahead is steep. His immediate goal is to break into the top 50, the threshold required to enter the qualification rounds for the Youth Olympics.

“My target is to play at the Youth Olympic Games 2026 in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13,” he said during an event hosted by the Indonesia Pingpong League in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

Michael’s daily routine consists of two to three training sessions, totaling six to seven hours. He acknowledges that the challenges will intensify as he transitions into the junior category, where competition is fiercer.

To boost his ranking, he plans to compete in multiple World Table Tennis (WTT) series events, aiming to collect points through consistent performances. His recent achievements underscore his potential.

Michael reached the quarterfinals of the WTT Youth Star Contender in Turkiye and advanced to the round of 16 at the WTT Youth Smash in Singapore earlier this year. These results propelled him to his current world ranking and strengthened his reputation as one of Indonesia’s most promising young talents.

“I need to keep improving my performance so I can reach the top 50 and qualify for the Youth Olympic Games,” he said, emphasizing that daily consistency is key to his progress.

With his relentless work ethic and growing international experience, Michael Hartono is emerging as a rising star who could soon carry Indonesia’s hopes onto the global stage. ***