VOInews, Yogyakarta: Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, as Chairman of PB PASI (Indonesian Athletics Association), officially opened the U16 Athletics National Championship (Kejurnas) and U18 Indonesia Open at the Mandala Krida Stadium in Yogyakarta on Saturday (20/7/2024). The tournament will run from 20 to 24 July 2024.
Speaking at the opening of the competition, which will be attended by 1030 athletes from 30 provinces in Indonesia as well as 7 countries namely Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Thailand and Timor Leste, Luhut hailed Yogyakarta's long history of hosting athletic championships. Yogyakarta has a long history of athletics in Indonesia. Hundreds of years ago, the first athletics organisation in Indonesia was established, known as the Nederlands Indische Atletiek Unie (NIAU) in 1917. Yogyakarta is a fertile place for the spirit of sportsmanship and struggle to grow," said Luhut.
According to Luhut, PASI continues to make many improvements in various aspects, one of which is to improve performance to make Indonesia proud in the international arena. In the near future, the largest integrated athletics training centre in Southeast Asia will be built in Pangalengan, West Java. Covering an area of 10 hectares, the training centre will be able to accommodate up to 90 athletes and coaches at a time. The facility will be used by the best athletes and coaches who have been rigorously selected at the youth and senior levels as a result of this national championship.
Luhut also stressed the importance of encouraging the best athletes from eastern Indonesia, who have trained and joined the Papua Athletics Centre Timika. We are starting to successfully revive the Papuan athletes who used to triumph in various championships at both national and international levels," he added.
In addition, this year PASI will also resume the series of Student Athletics Championships, which was organised two years ago. This activity is an attempt to find the best young athletes in the Republic and will be held in 6 different provinces or qualifications.
The U16 and U18 National Athletics Championships are not only a competitive event, but also a place to forge the mentality and skills of our young athletes. Luhut hopes that this event can find athletic seeds that will be the successors of their seniors, who will one day make Indonesia proud in various world championships.
"For the athletes, make the most of this opportunity. Compete honestly, do your best and uphold the values of sportsmanship. Remember that every step you take here is the basic capital for a more glorious future of Indonesian athletics," Luhut told the athletes.
