It has been a long time since Indonesia first took part in the Asian Games, but as many East Asian countries are steadily climbing up the medal tower, Indonesia is heading in the opposite direction - slowly slumping to the bottom.

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng denied Indonesian sports are in decline, but said that top results are difficult to achieve because the Asian Games is a world-class competition.

"I think our sports are on the rise. If we look at the Southeast Asian Games, we used to be in fourth place but now we are in third, and hopefully we will be No 1 next year," Andi said.

"This means that momentum is going our way," he said.

Despite the statement, statistics show Indonesia has indeed been left behind.

It might be too much to compare Indonesia with other East Asian countries, such as heavyweights like China, Japan or Korea.

But even among Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, the country with the fourth largest population in the world is sitting in the backseat.

Before the Guangzhou Games, the head of the Indonesian Sports Council, Rita Subowo, said Indonesia, which sent 140 athletes to China, aimed for victory in at least seven events. But after eight days, Indonesia had only collected three gold medals, seven silver and 10 bronze.

Archrival Thailand is ahead with four gold medals, six silver and 17 bronze, and neighboring Malaysia follows right behind with three golds, four silver and five bronze.

All of the gold medals come from dragon boat racing, a non-Olympic sport that might not even appear at the next Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

The athletes might be very happy winning the gold for their country, but more hardwork is required from the national sports authority - to try and get dragon boat racing into the Olympics.

Although admitting Indonesia has been left behind by many East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, Andi said Indonesia is not alone at the back.

The minister has his own opinion, arguing Indonesia had been mostly absent from the Asian Games podium because of the stiff competition.

"We were a contender at the Southeast Asian Games, but when the level is this high at the Asian Games, our athletes are mostly at the back of the pack," he said.

- The Jakarta Post