Rizki Juniansyah’s participation in the 2026 Asian Games has been canceled.

NAGOYA, KOMPAS — Olympic gold medalist from Paris 2024, Rizki Juniansyah, has canceled his participation in the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games despite having already traveled to Japan. Several irregularities occurred prior to his departure.

This confirmation was made available through the 85-kilogram weightlifting package start list, the weight category Rizki was originally planning to compete in. The package start list was prepared on Monday (September 21, 2026), a week before the 85-kg competition took place at the Nagoya Trade and Industry Center in Nagoya.

A start list package is a document that contains the competition schedule, including match dates and times, group allocations, and technical official assignments. It must also include a list of technical officials, group allocations, a list of participants for each group, draw numbers, names, dates of birth, IWF (International Weightlifting Federation)/IOC (International Olympic Committee) codes, and total starting lifts.

The new start list can only be created after the final verification, or final verification, conducted by the Technical Delegation. This stage is carried out with each athlete’s coach or manager to double-check the spelling of the athlete’s name, date of birth, weight category, and total entries.

During this process, names and birth dates can still be corrected. Weight categories and total entries can also be changed. Total entries are the estimated total lifts (combined snatch and clean and jerk) registered by an athlete or country before the start of the competition.

“Once the verification form has been verified, signed and returned, the entry is considered final,” the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) wrote in article 6.2.6 of its Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations (TCRR) 2025.

The format and regulations for the weightlifting competition at the 2026 Asian Games refer to the TCRR IWF. Technical issues are also resolved in accordance with the TCRR.

This means that the list of participants in the start list package is final. Names not on that list will not be competing. The IWF TCCR also states that athlete substitutions are not permitted.

Oddity

Rizki and other Indonesian lifters have departed for Japan since September 16, or a week before the first day of the weightlifting competition. They left early to undergo a training camp in Tokyo.

The irregularities had actually emerged even before Rizki departed for Japan. Similar to the preparations for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, the Indonesian Weightlifting Association held a national selection to determine the athletes who would be sent to the 2026 Asian Games.

The difference is that the selection event is not publicized as it was during the SEA Games. The selection on June 17, 2026, will also not be broadcast live and will be stored on the federation’s YouTube channel afterward, unlike the national selection for the SEA Games.

In fact, there are categories that offer fierce competition, including the 75 kg class, which Rizki competed in with another national lifter, Rahmat Erwi Abdullah. During the SEA Games national selection, Rahmat withdrew from the competition after failing two snatch attempts at 155 kg.

The “duel” was won by Rizki, who completed the lift as if in an international competition. Rizki is entitled to compete in the 79 kg class, while Rahmat is forced to move up to the 88 kg class.

The national selection for the Asian Games is not known for its process. However, Rizki did not participate in lifting weights even though he was actually present at the selection venue. The first irregularity then emerged.

We selected the athletes based on the national selection held last June. Those who passed the selection are athletes whose cohort meets the criteria in terms of the probability of winning medals at the Asian Games.

Nevertheless, the manager of the Indonesian weightlifting team, Pura Darmawan, stated that Rizki and Rahmat will remain the team’s mainstay at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. All athletes sent to compete are those who have met the qualifying results in the national selection.

In the list of athletes provided by Pura, Rahmat competes in the 75 kg category. Meanwhile, Rizki, although he did not participate in the national selection, has moved up to the 85 kg category.

“We selected the athletes based on the national selection held last June. Those who passed the selection are athletes whose cohort meets the criteria in terms of the chances of winning medals at the Asian Games. Therefore, the selection is based on their performance and potential,” said Pura at the national training center for weightlifting at Mess Kwini, Jakarta, Friday (31/7/2026).

When asked about Rizki, Pura mentioned that he could not participate in the national selection due to having sustained an injury. However, Pura was unable to provide further details about the injury.

Pura stated that the classification for Rahmat and Rizki was the result of discussions and negotiations together. “This is a good solution for both. There are many considerations; we monitor their weight, and we also look at the athletes and their opponents,” said Pura.

Another anomaly emerged. In addition to not complaining of any injuries, Rizki stated that he intentionally swapped classes with Rahmat, whom he referred to as a more senior lifter.

In fact, before the national selection, Rizki had stated that he would compete in the 75 kg class. This weight category is the most feasible for Rizki and Rahmat, who had previously competed in the old class of 73 kg. As a result, both lifters will not easily relinquish this weight category simply because of their “senior” status.

“I am focused on the Olympics, we will compete again later,” said Rizki when further asked about the Asian Games during the Indonesia Day event in Jakarta, Saturday (29/8/2026).

Rizki, who usually talks a lot, appeared to be more reserved. Rizki has also become increasingly difficult to meet as he spends more time training at his gym in Serang, Banten, rather than at the national weightlifting training center in Mess Kwini, Jakarta.

Rizki’s coach, Triyatno, stated that there was a problem that required the lifter to move up to the 85 kg class. However, Triyatno did not provide further details regarding the issue.

When the name Rizki “disappeared” from the start list, the weightlifting team coach Dirdja Wihardja requested that questions regarding this matter be directed to the team manager, Pura. Meanwhile, Pura, who is usually responsive, did not respond when contacted.

Pura has stated from the beginning that it did not participate in Nagoya due to budget constraints. Dirdja has also been appointed to take on dual roles as coach and manager. Until now, there has been no official statement from PB PABSI regarding Rizki.