Rizki Juniansyah Embraces New Weight Class Challenge at Asian Games 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Olympic champion Rizki Juniansyah is set to make his Asian Games debut in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan, stepping into a new challenge by competing in the 85kg men’s weightlifting category after previously winning gold in the 73kg class at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The 23‑year‑old lifter acknowledged the heightened expectations but framed them as motivation rather than pressure. “It’s not a burden for me. It motivates me to fight harder in competition,” Rizki said after the official inauguration of Indonesia’s contingent in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Rizki explained that overthinking medal targets could negatively affect performance, so he prefers to stay calm and enjoy the process. “If I treat it as a burden, it will hurt my performance. I’ll keep it enjoyable,” he added.

His preparation includes carefully managed weight gain from 78kg to 85kg, supported by nutrition, training, and conditioning to ensure added mass translates into competitive power. “I’m not just increasing weight randomly. It has to be useful power for competition,” Rizki emphasized.

The shift in categories also separates him from teammate Rahmat Erwin Abdullah, who will compete in the 75kg class. Both were initially projected for the same division, but the final roster placed them in different categories. Rahmat enters Nagoya as the defending champion from the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, while Rizki faces his first continental test.

Indonesia’s weightlifting squad includes Ricko Saputra (60kg) and veteran Eko Yuli Irawan (65kg) in the men’s team, alongside women’s lifters Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana (49kg), Juliana Klarisa (53kg), Natasya Beteyob (61kg), and Indah Afriza (69kg).

The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting, and Bodybuilding Association (PABSI) is targeting four medals from its eight lifters, without assigning specific medal colors or burdens to individual athletes.

For Rizki, the focus remains on contributing to Indonesia’s campaign. “The important thing is I give my best for Indonesia,” he concluded. ***