VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali invited the public to make the commemoration of the National Sports Day on September 9, 2020, as a moment to improve fitness amid Covid-19 pandemic. According to Minister Zainudin in an official statement in Jakarta on Wednesday (3/9), his side wants the National Sports Day to be an important momentum. Not only fitness, but also sports achievements through sports science support, as well as community economic empowerment through sport tourism and sport industry have to be obtained. He also said that the 2020 National Sports Day is different from the previous years on which the peak of the commemoration is carried out in the designated cities because this year, the peak of the National Sports Day commemoration is centered at the Sports Building for the Korea Indonesia Friendship Sports Center -GOR POPKI Cibubur, East Jakarta. At the climax of the National Sports Day, President Joko Widodo will be present virtually from the State Palace, followed by the invitees and regional heads who simultaneously will be from their respective regions. Head of the 37th National Sports Day Organizing Committee, Raden Isnanta conveyed the preparation for this activity to Minister Zainudin by emphasizing that National Sports Day still applies strict health protocols.

South Kalimantan Police Chief Inspector General Pol Nico Afinta, who is also Head of the Foreign Relations of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina), wants to improve the achievements of boxing athletes in South Kalimantan. This was stated by Nico in Banjarmasin more recently. Thereby, he fully supports the efforts of South Kalimantan Pertina Regional Board, chaired by the 101st / Antasari Military Resort Command, Brigadier General TNI Firmansyah, to produce and foster potential South Kalimantan boxing athletes. He also said that South Kalimantan boxers must appear on the national stage, especially if they become Indonesia's ambassadors in the international arena. Nico also hopes that the inauguration of the renovation of the South Kalimantan Provincial Administration's Pertina Arena can bring about fresh air to the training of boxing athletes. He hopes that with the improvement of training facilities, boxing athletes can make South Kalimantan proud by winning medals in every national and international championship. The inauguration of the renovation of the boxing facility belonging to the South Kalimantan Pertina Provincial Government was attended by Governor of South Kalimantan, H Sahbirin Noor.

The Rajawali Team won the 2020 Thomas Cup Simulation event held by the Indonesian Badminton Association -PBSI at the Cipayung National Stadium, East Jakarta, on September 1-3 2020. In the last match which took place on Thursday the Rajawali team overthrew the Banteng team 5-0. The Rajawali team consisted of three men's singles Jonatan Christie, Karono and Bobby Setiabudhi, as well as two men's doubles Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Pramudya Kusumawardhana/Yeremi Erich Yoche Rambitan. Meanwhile, the Garuda team took the runner-up position, after Ikhsan Leonardo Imanuel Rumbay's men's singles won over Firman Abdul Kholik with a score of 21-16, 21-15. In the race for 3rd place, in the 2020 Thomas Cup simulation, Garuda team won 3-0 over the Tiger Team.

The Province of South Sumatra is targeting the construction of a horse riding venue at the Jakabaring Sport City-JSC, Palembang, South Sumatera to further enhance the sports infrastructure in its area. Governor of South Sumatra Province, Herman Deru said in Palembang, Wednesday (2/9) that this wish has received support from the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi). He also said that the provincial government plans to build a horse riding arena with international standards as well as other sports venues in the JSC complex. According to him, the construction of this venue has advantages because horse riding is intended not only for achievement but also a means of sport tourism. Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi), Triwatty Marciano said that the construction of equestrian sports facilities and infrastructure is in line with the government's goals of developing sport tourism, sport science, and sport industry. She hopes that South Sumatra will later become a center for fostering equestrian sports and at the same time regularly hold national and international events.

All elite football matches in England, including the Premier League, were suspended until Apr 4 on Friday (Mar 13) due to the coronavirus pandemic, English football's governing bodies said in a joint statement. The "unanimous" decision was made in a meeting on Friday, after Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta and Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi were diagnosed with the coronavirus. 

"In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, government, the FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority," said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters. 

"Above all, we wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and everyone else affected by COVID-19." 

In a statement posted on its website, the Premier League added: "Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League’s aim is to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so.

"In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when appropriate."//CNA

The Mandiri Sungailiat Triathlon 2020 in Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Province on April 11th is targeting 500 participants from 18 countries. The official from the event, Budi Pamungkas said on Monday, the last year event was attended by athletes from 16 countries.

Some 62 foreign athletes are confirmed to taking part in  Mandiri Sungailiat Triathlon this year.

Pamungkas said the Triathlon have three catagories that will start at 6 AM and finish at 10 PM. The catagories are duathlon, triathlon and entertainment. Specifically for Entertainment catagory will be held at night with more arts and cultural activities such as bedincak gymnastics, lion dance dan martial arts. The Regent of Bangka, Mulkan, said on Tuesday that the Triathlon 2020 is quite challenging because of the coronavirus outbreak. But Regent Mulkan optimist this Mandiri Sungailiat Triathlon 2020 will be running smoothly.

After securing the title of Grand Master (GM) in the seventh round, chess player Novendra Priasmoro won the Liberec Open 2020 chess tournament in the Czech Republic, which ends Saturday night (29/2) or Sunday early morning (1/3) Western Indonesia Time.Novendra (2493) convincingly won 8.5 points from nine innings. This PT United Tractors' chess player almost won a perfect score, but at the last play, he had to be satisfied with the results of mussels in the 62nd step of the Sicilian Dragon defense after a 4.5-hour with Polish chess player Franciszek Sernecki (2218).

In his short message to media Novendra said he optimist to win but rather bit disappoint because last game result that reduce 0,5 poin to 12,5 points.

At the Liberec Open 2020 tournament, Novendra performed very well. He is on the top position with 8.5 points, one and a half points above the second place with MI Klaudia Kulon (2335) from Poland. Meanwhile, Indonesian young chess player Aditya Bagus Arfan (2285) also achieved relatively good performance after finishing fifth with a total of 6.5 points. In the last round, Aditya won over Aneta Korosciel (1968) who was also from Poland.

Indonesian racer Sean Gelael completed a series of three-days Bahrain F2, finish in ninth position on his initial debut with the DAMS team.On the third day of the pre-season at the Sakhir circuit, Qatar, Tuesday (3/3/2020), Sean held two sessions in the morning and evening. In the morning, Sean is using prime hard tires and option soft tires.

Of the two long runs, Sean has an average lap time of 1 minute 48.792 seconds and 1 minute 49.060 seconds. Sean managed to improve the record time from the previous day, 1 minute 49.712 seconds. In the afternoon session this 23 years old racer running a qualification simulation program. Unlike most other racers who use the option tire, Sean instead choose the prime tires.

He made 1 minute 41.911 seconds, 0.659 seconds behind of the fastest racer Luca Ghiotto of the Hitech Grand Prix who used the option tires. With that time record, Sean managed to finish the third day of Bahrain's pre-season in ninth, ahead of teammate Dan Ticktum in 12th position with 1 minute 42.140 seconds.

According to Sean, as quoted by detiksport, he was happy with the DAMS car and the team provided their best vehicles. He is satisfied because he can run all programs well and happy with the results. The first Formula 2 2020 series will be held in Bahrain on March 20-22. While the second series at Zandvoort, the Netherlands, a new series replacing Paul Ricard in France.

11 Indonesian badminton players are securing the place for 2020 Tokyo Olympics even though the new qualification roun will ends in April. The eleven representatives have confirmed themselves to fill seven quotas, each coming from two men's singles, two men's doubles, one women's singles, one women's doubles, and one mixed doubles.

Secretary-General of the Badminton Association of Indonesia -PBSI Achmad Budiharto in Jakarta on Tuesday said the eleven representatives were, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, Jonatan Christie, Gregoria Mariska Tanjung, Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo / Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, Hendra Setiawan / Mohammad Ahsan, Greysia Polii / Apriyani Rahayu, and Praveen Jordan / Melati Daeva Oktavianti.

Based on the BWF update as of March 3, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting and Jonatan Christie came in fourth and fifth with 75,332 points and 72,940 points, respectively. Their position is quite safe because they are still in the top eight. While in the men's doubles, the position of Kevin / Marcus and Hendra / Ahsan certainly are not easy to be evicted because they are ranked in the top two of the 2020 Olympic qualifications.

Then, Greysia / Apriyani, who ranked seventh in qualification with 67,805 points, leading from Thai doubles Jongkolphan Kititharakul / Rawinda Prajongjai with 51,097 points in eighth. In the mixed doubles, Praveen / Melati also considered safe in fifth place with 70,527 points and difficult to be shifted by other pairs below.

Indonesian representatives Hafiz Faizal / Gloria Emanuelle Widjaja won second place in the mixed doubles at the Thailand Masters 2020 tournament held at the Huamark Indoor Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand. In the final round match which took place on Sunday (1/26), Hafiz / Gloria had to recognize the toughness of English couple Marcus Ellis / Lauren Smith in three games lasting 64 minutes with the acquisition of 16-21, 21-13, 16-21.

In the first game, their opponents continued to collect points, while Hafiz / Gloria lagged behind. Unable to catch up, finally Hafiz / Gloria lost with a score of 16-21. In the second game, Hafiz / Gloria were able to score and surpass the English couple with a score of 21-13.

In the last game, the competition between the two couples ran tight. Both of them were playing aggressively to get points. Unfortunately, Hafiz / Gloria finally had to admit the toughness of the British couple, Ellis / Smith with a closing score of 16-21. Hafiz / Gloria and Ellis / Smith had previously met at the 2019 Japan Open tournament. At that time, Hafiz / Gloria won in three games with a score of 21-23, 21-13, 21-13 over the English couple. Based on the BWF ranking, Hafiz / Gloria is superior to Ellis / Smith.

Related to Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship plan, President of the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship (F1H2O Racing), Nicolo Di San Germano reviewed the location of the world's highest class motorboat racing competition in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province which is to be held in July 2020.

Governor of the Bangka Belitung Islands, Erzaldi Rosman Djohan in Pangkalpinang on Monday said the President and the F1H2O Racing Team had conducted a survey of the location of this world-class boat racing at the Terentang Beach in Central Bangka Regency, Jembatan Emas, Jembatan Baturusa 2, Pangkal Balam Port, and the dock of PT DAK.

According to the Governor of the Bangka Belitung Islands, based on the results of the location survey, the F1H2O Racing Team was interested in holding the event in the Baturusa River area with various considerations and other technical aspects. He appreciates and fully supports the boat racing championship which will be participated by 300 participants from all over the world, because it can promote tourism and increase foreign tourist arrivals to Bangka Belitung.

According to the agenda, this event is planned to be held in July or August 2020, which will be attended by teams from all over the world who will show their abilities in F1 and F4 H2O racing classes.

Regarding the Coronavirus outbreak, Indonesian sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri feels that he will not try a trial match abroad before competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Short-distance running head coach Eni Nuraeni revealed the All Indonesia Athletics Association - PASI has yet to find a replacement tournament for Zohri. Initially, Zohri planned to take part in at least two indoor athletics championships which took place in February and March before appearing at the Olympics. PASI Executive Board also, according to Eni, is confused about finding another championship for Zohri. In fact, the trial match was considered very important as a place to train mentally before going down at the Olympics later.

The indoor athletics world championship, which was originally held in Nanjing, China, was postponed in March until 2021 amid the threat of a coronavirus that is raging in the country. As quoted by Reuters on Thursday morning, after obtaining a WHO recommendation, the main world athletics organization named World Athletics, formerly called the IAAF, has been monitoring the situation ahead of the event that should be held March 13-15 and decided to move it to next year. In addition, the Asian Athletics Association has also canceled the regional indoor championship which was supposed to be held on February 12-13 in Hangzhou, 600 km from Wuhan. According to the agenda, Lalu Muhammad Zohri will participate in the two events held in China.

President of Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique(FIG) Morinari Watanabe said he would support the development of gymnastics in Indonesia in order to excel at the international level, especially at the Olympics.

Indonesia is one of the strongest countries in the field of sports. If Indonesia can make good gymnastic facilities, it will provide equipment support. This was said by Watanabe during his visit to the Office of the Indonesian Olympic Committee in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Watanabe stressed that gymnastics is one of the fundamental sports providing the most gold medals at the Olympics. He said if the exercise is fundamentally strong then other sports can be developed faster. As many as 90 percent of the Olympic sports, according to Watanabe has the basics of gymnastics in it.

To achieve this, Watanabe said that the Japanese Government was willing to provide opportunities for five Indonesian gymnastics athletes to participate in training camps in Japan for 10 days. Chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee Raja Sapta Oktohari also expressed his gratitude for the willingness of the President of the FIG who took the time to visit Indonesia. He hopes that the arrival of Watanabe can have a better positive impact on the development of Gymnastics in Indonesia.