VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Screenshot—Daily chairman of Indonesian E-sports Executive Board (PBESI), Bambang Sunarwibowo (middle), chairman of Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI), Raja Sapta Oktohari (right), and International Esports Federation (IESF) secretary general, Boban Totovski (left), in a virtual press conference on Friday (March 11, 2022). (ANTARA/Arindra Meodia/uyu) - 

Indonesian Esports Central Board (PBESI) Operational Director Bambang Sunarwibowo has informed that Indonesia will compete in six events at the 14th International Esports Federation (IESF) World Championships and target to bag two gold medals.

"As the host of the tournament, we target to snatch at least two gold medals. However, we hope that we can get more than three medals,” he remarked at a virtual press conference on Friday.

Chairperson of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) Raja Sapta Oktohari said that the competition is important to improve domestic e-sports athletes’ competence on the international stage.

"We believe that PBESI’s attempts in honing the young athletes, implementing systematic national competition, and participating in various international competitions can increase the achievement of Indonesian e-sports athletes,” he added.

IESF Secretary General Boban Totovski, who visited Indonesia in person to check the nation’s preparation for the international championship, noted that the event will see participation from more than one thousand athletes from 120 countries. The event will be held from November 20–27, 2022.

"The participants can experience Indonesian hospitality and see the beauty of the nation while staying during the tournament," he remarked.

He said the IESF will ensure that the players are in good condition considering that the participants from Costa Rica need to travel for 50 hours to reach Bali.

"I believe with the professionalism of PBESI and KOI as well as IESF experience in handling international competition, I am confident that in 2022 we can set the standards for e-sports events," the IESF secretary general remarked.

A total of 127 countries have registered to participate in the world e-sports championship, he noted.

However, due to the COVID-19 travel limitations, it is estimated that participants from only 120 countries will attend the tournament, he said.

In addition to the athletes, 150 representatives of national e-sports federations from various countries and 30 media delegations from all over the world will attend the event, he added//ANT