Ketum KONI Pusat Berharap PON XXI Hasilkan Atlet-atlet Bepresasi Internasional

SURABAYA - General Chairperson of the Central Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Lt. Gen. Retired TNI Marciano Norman opened the official selection of athletes for the Muangthai National Sports Week (PON) XXI for 2024, August 20.

Participants recorded came from 28 provinces that will compete in 22 match numbers. The match will be held from 21-27 August 2023.

The contingent from 28 provinces competed in 22 match numbers which were held from 21-27 August 2023.

Marciano hopes that the athletes who will qualify will be the best athletes owned by Indonesia. Furthermore, the athletes who won PON XXI/2024 Aceh-Sumut are athletes who are able to excel at the international level.

"We need young athletes, athletes who are fostered by each province. Hopefully this will give birth to new athletes who in our participation in international competitions, they can make the nation and state proud because of their achievements," said the Head of the Central KONI, Marciano Norman.

The remaining time must be used as well as possible until the XXI PON 2024 is held on September 8-20 2024. "The time that is still one year, I ask to prepare it as well as possible so that in September 2024 when the XXI PON in Aceh-North Sumatra, the Muangthai athletes are at the peak of performance," he continued.

The target is to improve the quality of the achievements of Muaythai athletes at PON XXI/2024 Aceh-Sumut from PON XX/2021 in Papua.

"Let's unite together to improve Muagthai Indonesia's achievements. I hope the qualifying round will run well by upholding sportsmanship," said Marciano.

The spirit of filtering, capturing and fostering the best talent for the Muaythai sport was also conveyed by the Chairman of the Indonesian Muangthai Executive Board (PB.MI) for the 2022-2026 term of service La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti.

"The goal is one, we want to have a gold medal for Indonesia if we play outside," said the man who is also the chairman of the DPD RI.

Therefore, he advised that the match should run objectively, judging from the athlete's performance. Including, La Nyalla does not want the host to get privileged when competing. "Never ever do East Java, the host will continue to be defended, I don't want to," La Nyalla, who is also a figure from East Java.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy I of the Head of the Central KONI who is also the former Commander of the Brawijaya Regional Military Command Maj. Gen. TNI Retired Dr. Suwarno, East Java KONI Chairman M. Nabil, Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi and several other figures.