Jakarta – Former head of Indonesian military intelligence Maj. Gen. (ret) Zacky Anwar Makarim, 72, has been elected as acting Indonesian track and field association chief, replacing Muhammad "Bob" Hasan who died earlier this year.
Zacky, who is a senior member of the association, was elected unanimously by a panel of the association's top members. Uncle of current education minister Nadiem Makarim, Zacky is tasked with continuing Bob Hasan's legacy and safeguarding athletes' preparations for next year's Tokyo Olympics and also other competitions, at least until the association's current board completes its term in December.
The association is set to appoint a new permanent chief and members of management in December through a congress.
Secretary-general Tigor Tanjung acknowledged that the absence of a chief figure would hamper the funding disbursement process from the government to the association in relation to athletes' preparations and training programs for the Olympics.
"We are going to organize a national training camp in the immediate future. Thus, Zacky's presence is pivotal for the association as we are going to need government funding to run those programs," Tigor said as quoted in the association's statement on Thursday.
Commenting on his new position, Zacky acknowledged that this time is very crucial for the association as they are being asked to maintain a top performance in the middle of a funding deficit and tournament postponements.
"Despite the problems, we are going to move forward with our planned schedules," Zacky, brother of one of the country's most senior lawyers, Nono Anwar Makarim, said.
Sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri is the only Indonesian athlete to secure his place at the Olympics, thanks to his 10.03-second achievement in the 2019 Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Osaka, Japan, last year. The World Athletics body previously announced that the Tokyo Olympics qualifiers would be postponed from April to December this year.