JAKARTA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian weightlifting and body building association is optimistic that Deni, one of the country's strongmen who won gold at the South East Asia Games in 2017, will repeat his success at the 2018 Asian Games.

Deputy chairman of the association Joko Pramono said on Thursday that Deni is expected to be a dark horse in the continental sporting event in Indonesia this year.

"We hope Deni can secure a gold medal in the Asian Games," Pramono said.

According to Deni, the absence of China and Kazakhstan from the weightlifting event would give him an opportunity to win gold.