Looking For Gymnastics Open Indonesia Gymnastics Open 2023 Seeds

Illustration of gymnastics. (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The Indonesia Gymnastics Open 2023 Championship will be held on July 2-5. The competition which will take place at the Tangerang Convention Center and GOR Jatiuwung, Tangerang, Banten, will be attended by more than 500 gymnasts from various regions.

It is natural for the Executive Board of the Indonesian Gymnastics Association (PB Persani) to make this tournament a place to find potential athletes.

General Chairperson of PB Persani Ita Yuliati Irawan said this event is an annual program to see the potential of young athletes from all over Indonesia as well as a screening event for the leading seeds of gymnasts in the country.

"This event is for nursery, later after there is a champion, we will build a talent scouting," said Ita, as quoted from Antara, Friday, June 30.

Indonesia Open 2023, continued Ita, is the second edition after last year PB Persani also successfully held a similar event. In its implementation, this event reshuffled three gymnastics disciplines, namely aerobic, artistic, and rhythmic.

Ita revealed that competition, especially for young people, is important to maintain the regeneration of athletes. "That is something that must continue to be prepared. Please pray and support, hopefully in the future there will be athletes who can bring Indonesia's fragrant name on the world stage," said Ita.

PB Persani also continues to run programs to improve the achievements of Indonesian gymnastics. Currently, one of the main focuses is passing Red and White athletes to the biggest sporting event in the world, namely the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The athlete prepared is Rifda Irfanaluthfi. PB Persani will also send Rifda to the Netherlands for a training camp (TC) in preparation for the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Antwerp, Belgium on September 30, October 8.

"Rifda will go to the Netherlands later, but not long ago. Planned to leave ahead of Belgium. In the Netherlands, he said three weeks or one month. But we are still working on it again, whether it will take more than that. For example, three months. We will discuss it again," said Ita.

The Netherlands was chosen as the location for Rifda's preparations for the 2023 World Championships because it has adequate training facilities and infrastructure, supported by an experienced coach.

"The tools in the Netherlands are good. It's not the main tool for competition, but supporting tools for good training. For example, there are cascades, ice pools that are important for muscles. Then there is a fitness center, there are also tools in the room for gymnastics, and so on," said Ita.

This condition is different from in Indonesia. According to Ita, training facilities for gymnastics in the country are not adequate. In fact, gymnastics, especially artistic, is an Olympic branch as well as a priority in the Great Design of National Sports (DBON).

The 2023 World Championships, continued Ita, are qualifications for the Paris Olympics.

Rifda's opportunity to appear at the biggest sporting event in the world is wide open. Moreover, Rifda continues to show consistency and has great determination to be able to bring Indonesia on the world stage.

He made sure to qualify for the 2023 World Championships after performing well at the Asian Gymnastics Championship at the OCBC Arena, Kallang, Singapore, 10-18 June.