Indonesia's Senior Weightlifter is Set for Their Sixth Asian Games Appearance, Ready to Create 20 Years of History.

Eko Yuli Irawan is preparing to add another chapter to his long Asian Games journey. Indonesia's senior weightlifter is scheduled to make his sixth appearance at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, running from 19 September to 4 October.

Now 37 years old, Eko is being prepared to compete in the men's 65 kilogram category. If he participates as planned, this will mark two full decades of the weightlifter's career at Asia's largest multi-sport event.

It all began in Doha, Qatar, in 2006. At that time, Eko was only 17 years old and competed in the 56 kilogram class.

He finished in sixth place after recording a total lift of 271 kilograms, achieved with 121 kilograms in the snatch and 150 kilograms in the clean and jerk.

Four years later, Eko finally stepped onto an Asian Games podium. At Guangzhou 2010, he won bronze in the 62 kilogram class with a total lift of 311 kilograms.

He claimed another bronze medal at Incheon 2014. Eko posted a total lift of 308 kilograms, consisting of 142 kilograms snatch and 166 kilograms clean and jerk.

The peak of Eko's Asian Games career came at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, where he took gold in the 62 kilogram class.

He recorded a total lift of 311 kilograms, from a 141 kilogram snatch and 170 kilogram clean and jerk.

This title was also the first Asian Games gold medal of his entire career.

Disappointment at Hangzhou

However, Eko's medal run came to an end at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games which was staged in 2023. Competing in the 67 kilogram class, Eko successfully lifted 145 kilograms in the snatch round.

He failed all three of his clean and jerk attempts, leaving him with no registered total lift and forcing him to exit the competition without a medal.

Aichi-Nagoya 2026 opens up an opportunity for Eko to return to the podium.

If he competes per the current projection, the 1989-born weightlifter will chase his fourth career Asian Games medal, while also extending his own record to six consecutive Asian Games appearances.

This will stand as an extraordinary career milestone: spanning Doha 2006, Guangzhou 2010, Incheon 2014, Jakarta-Palembang 2018, Hangzhou 2022, through to Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Four Male Weightlifters Prepared For The Games

Eko is not Indonesia's only leading prospect in weightlifting. The men's squad will also field Ricko Saputra in the 60 kilogram class, Rahmat Erwin Abdullah (75kg) and Rizki Juniansyah (85kg).

Meanwhile the women's team will be represented by Luluk Diana Tri Wijayana in the 49 kilogram class, Juliana Klarisa (53kg), Natasya Beteyob (61kg), and Indah Afriza (69kg).