Covering multi-sport events presents a significant challenge for journalists in their careers as news seekers. The numerous sports held simultaneously require journalists to skillfully manage their time to decide which sports to cover, especially when the number of reporters assigned is limited. Typically, they have already devised a plan regarding which athletes and sports to attend, taking into account that those athletes have a substantial chance of winning gold.
However, in reality, everything that has been planned can change. The feeling of regret for not attending the sport that won gold often occurs. Complaining to fellow journalists whose predictions were off becomes a source of solace.
Kompas journalists experienced something similar. On the second day of coverage after the opening of the 2025 SEA Games, Kompas journalists were spread out to two locations: one covering the men’s and women’s team badminton finals at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani, about 40 kilometers from their accommodation. The second coverage was woodball at the Royal Thai Fleet Golf Course in Sattahip, Chonburi, Thailand.
The men’s and women’s team badminton finals are a priority. Besides offering a great chance to win gold, these matches also offer a chance to prove themselves at the SEA Games. Therefore, the Kompas team has agreed to follow the badminton finals to the end.
When covering the multi-sport event, almost all media prioritized reporting on Indonesia’s first gold medal at the event. On that day, the Indonesian women’s badminton team had the opportunity to secure Indonesia’s first gold medal at the SEA Games 2025.
The Indonesian women’s team has not yet achieved a favorable outcome. They had to concede to the superiority of the host nation, Thailand, with a score of 1-3 and are content to secure the silver medal. The opportunity to capture Indonesia’s first gold medal at the SEA Games must also be postponed. At the same time, the final matches of taekwondo and swimming are also taking place.
Following the Indonesian women’s badminton team’s defeat in the final, the good news arrived. Indonesia’s first gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games was won in the men’s team poomsae event in taekwondo, defeating the Philippines. The joy was short-lived for Indonesian journalists covering the badminton in Rangsit. It took the journalists about 46 minutes to reach the taekwondo venue, located at Island Hall, Fashion Island Shopping Mall, Bangkok. Furthermore, the men’s team badminton team was about to compete. Sirna had already covered Indonesia’s first gold medal.
However, the sadness dissipated after Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah led the Indonesian badminton team to victory in the team event at the 2025 SEA Games. With a decisive score of 3-0, Indonesia defeated Malaysia in the final match. The song “Indonesia Raya” finally resonated at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani.
To avoid a repeat of this, the coverage plan was finally finalized. On Thursday (December 11, 2025), the Kompas team spread out again to cover various sports. One of them was gymnastics, which took place in the same complex as the badminton event. The three Indonesian finalists in gymnastics were able to secure a silver medal in the rings event, won by Muhammad Aprizal.
A chance to photograph Aprizal with his silver medal was cut short when the clock showed 4:30 PM WIB. Kompas reporters had to immediately head to the swimming venue at the Rajamangala National Stadium complex. The only quickest way to get there was by taxi. The relief they felt after the taxi arrived quickly vanished when they saw the travel time to the venue was approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. The swimming final would take place at 6:00 PM WIB.
Bangkok’s traffic jam at the time felt endless. Even though we were using the toll road, the congestion was unavoidable. Upon arriving at the venue, the chants of the song “Indonesia Raya” could be heard in the distance. Running with two camera bodies and a 400mm lens weighing 3 kilograms to catch the peak momentum was unavoidable. Fortunately, I was still able to photograph the athletes with their gold medals. However, regret not capturing the athletes in action as they won was inevitable.
It seems that both athletes and journalists are not much different, as they are both in search of gold at the SEA Games. The only difference lies in the aspect of receiving bonuses.
Show your support for Indonesian athletes
Dear readers, Kompas Daily is opening a Letters to Athletes column, which contains opinions, encouragement, or comments regarding the performance of Indonesian athletes at the 2025 SEA Games Thailand. Send your short comments, a minimum of two sentences and a maximum of six sentences, by filling in the column below. We will publish selected comments in Kompas Daily during the 2025 SEA Games.
Covering multi-sport events presents a significant challenge for journalists in their careers as news seekers. The numerous sports held simultaneously require journalists to skillfully manage their time to decide which sports to cover, especially when the number of reporters assigned is limited. Typically, they have already devised a plan regarding which athletes and sports to attend, taking into account that those athletes have a substantial chance of winning gold.
However, in reality, everything that has been planned can change. The feeling of regret for not attending the sport that won gold often occurs. Complaining to fellow journalists whose predictions were off becomes a source of solace.
Kompas journalists experienced something similar. On the second day of coverage after the opening of the 2025 SEA Games, Kompas journalists were spread out to two locations: one covering the men’s and women’s team badminton finals at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Pathum Thani, about 40 kilometers from their accommodation. The second coverage was woodball at the Royal Thai Fleet Golf Course in Sattahip, Chonburi, Thailand.
The men’s and women’s team badminton finals are a priority. Besides offering a great chance to win gold, these matches also offer a chance to prove themselves at the SEA Games. Therefore, the Kompas team has agreed to follow the badminton finals to the end.
When covering the multi-sport event, almost all media prioritized reporting on Indonesia’s first gold medal at the event. On that day, the Indonesian women’s badminton team had the opportunity to secure Indonesia’s first gold medal at the SEA Games 2025.
The Indonesian women’s team has not yet achieved a favorable outcome. They had to concede to the superiority of the host nation, Thailand, with a score of 1-3 and are content to secure the silver medal. The opportunity to capture Indonesia’s first gold medal at the SEA Games must also be postponed. At the same time, the final matches of taekwondo and swimming are also taking place.
Following the Indonesian women’s badminton team’s defeat in the final, the good news arrived. Indonesia’s first gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games was won in the men’s team poomsae event in taekwondo, defeating the Philippines. The joy was short-lived for Indonesian journalists covering the badminton in Rangsit. It took the journalists about 46 minutes to reach the taekwondo venue, located at Island Hall, Fashion Island Shopping Mall, Bangkok. Furthermore, the men’s team badminton team was about to compete. Sirna had already covered Indonesia’s first gold medal.
However, the sadness dissipated after Mohammad Zaki Ubaidillah led the Indonesian badminton team to victory in the team event at the 2025 SEA Games. With a decisive score of 3-0, Indonesia defeated Malaysia in the final match. The song “Indonesia Raya” finally resonated at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, Pathum Thani.
To avoid a repeat of this, the coverage plan was finally finalized. On Thursday (December 11, 2025), the Kompas team spread out again to cover various sports. One of them was gymnastics, which took place in the same complex as the badminton event. The three Indonesian finalists in gymnastics were able to secure a silver medal in the rings event, won by Muhammad Aprizal.
A chance to photograph Aprizal with his silver medal was cut short when the clock showed 4:30 PM WIB. Kompas reporters had to immediately head to the swimming venue at the Rajamangala National Stadium complex. The only quickest way to get there was by taxi. The relief they felt after the taxi arrived quickly vanished when they saw the travel time to the venue was approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. The swimming final would take place at 6:00 PM WIB.
Bangkok’s traffic jam at the time felt endless. Even though we were using the toll road, the congestion was unavoidable. Upon arriving at the venue, the chants of the song “Indonesia Raya” could be heard in the distance. Running with two camera bodies and a 400mm lens weighing 3 kilograms to catch the peak momentum was unavoidable. Fortunately, I was still able to photograph the athletes with their gold medals. However, regret not capturing the athletes in action as they won was inevitable.
It seems that both athletes and journalists are not much different, as they are both in search of gold at the SEA Games. The only difference lies in the aspect of receiving bonuses.
Show your support for Indonesian athletes
Dear readers, Kompas Daily is opening a Letters to Athletes column, which contains opinions, encouragement, or comments regarding the performance of Indonesian athletes at the 2025 SEA Games Thailand. Send your short comments, a minimum of two sentences and a maximum of six sentences, by filling in the column below. We will publish selected comments in Kompas Daily during the 2025 SEA Games.
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