Indonesian Olympic lifters say Ramadan no heavy weight

By Sam Reeves and Dessy Sagita, AFPJune 26, 2016, 12:15 am TWN

JAKARTA--Indonesian Olympic medalist Triyatno had a look of pained determination on his face as he hauled a 180 kilogram barbell into the air — no mean feat for a weightlifter fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The 28-year-old and fellow weightlifter Eko Yuli Irawan were Indonesia's only two medal winners at the last Olympics, clinching silver and bronze respectively, and the pressure is on as they gear up for Rio this summer.

But that has not stopped the athletes joining tens of millions of others in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country in forgoing food and drink during the daytime to mark Ramadan.

And they insist it has not affected their intensive preparations.

"I don't find it a heavy weight, it's not difficult," Triyatno said of juggling the competing demands of fasting and getting ready for the Olympics. "My training remains the same."

At a recent session at a gym in Jakarta's main stadium, the country's weightlifting team spent two hours grunting and groaning as they pumped iron under the watchful eyes of their coaches.

While most in Indonesia practice a moderate form of Islam, religion still plays a large role in many people's lives, and the training began with the team standing in a circle and saying a brief prayer.

    Indonesia weightlifting athlete Eko Yuli Irawan, left, and Triyatno, second left, breaking their fasting with other Olympic athletes in Jakarta, during the holy month of Ramadan, Tuesday, June 21. (AFP)

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Source: Indonesian Olympic lifters say Ramadan no heavy weight