Indonesia Secures Runner-up in SEA Games 2025 Gold Medal Count as Vietnam Leads Uncatchably

Indonesia has secured its position as the runner-up in the SEA Games 2025 Medal tally in Thailand. Although not the overall champion, this runner-up position results from meticulous calculation, consistent performance, and policy initiatives that have transformed the landscape of national sports achievements.

Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Erick Thohir emphasized that the SEA Games 2025 runner-up position is now unassailable. 

As of the latest count, Indonesia has collected 91 gold medals, while its closest competitor, Vietnam in third place, holds 86 golds with limited additional opportunities.

Mathematically, even the worst-case scenario cannot shake the Red and White's position. 

"If Vietnam wins all three remaining golds and we maintain our current standing, their total gold medals would be 89, while Indonesia already has 91. Thus, Indonesia's position as runner-up is confirmed," stated Erick Thohir in an official release on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

Erick described this achievement as a historic milestone. Indonesia last finished as SEA Games runner-up when not the host nation in 1995. 

"In previous SEA Games, especially when Indonesia was not the host, the country's position averaged around third or fourth place," Erick said.

SEA Games 2025 featured intense competition with nations increasingly aggressive in sports investment. Yet Indonesia found its momentum.

According to Erick, this historic record is inseparable from the role of President Prabowo Subianto, who approved additional funding for SEA Games 2025, enabling Indonesia to send its best athletes across various disciplines. This decision directly impacted performance quality and squad depth in many events.

Beyond budgetary support, motivational factors also played a significant role. The Rp1 billion bonus for gold medalists ignited the athletes' spirit. 

This runner-up finish is not the end, but a confirmation that Indonesia has reaffirmed itself as a major force in Southeast Asia—not by chance, but through strategic planning.