Achievements Are Being Highlighted, The Government Even Helps PBSI Build A New Sports Center

JAKARTA The construction of a new sports center with complete facilities for the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) is planned to start in September 2024.

The development received support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) and the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR).

The Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Dito Ariotedjo, at a press conference on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at noon WIB, said that this work is part of a road map to prepare for the 2028 Olympics.

"We are targeting September 2024 to lay stones, but this is in the finalization assessment stage. So, hopefully we will work quickly because this is what PBSI hopes for during the national deliberation," he said.

In addition to the development plan starting from zero (from script), the three parties also have a second option, namely renovating the existing PBSI facilities at the Cipayung training camp (Pelatnas).

The Minister of Youth and Sports revealed that for the start-statch, the construction site is planned to continue to be carried out in Cipayung or other places in Subang Regency, West Java.

"We will definitely explore both of them. However, what is certain is that the Cipayung National Training Center will not be banned but we will modernize it," said the Menpora.

The construction of facilities and infrastructure is a short-term target conveyed by the General Chairperson of PBSI Fadil Imran when he was elected to the national meeting on August 10-12, 2024.

Fadil said that the facilities and infrastructure were urgent for the progress of athletes' achievements. He was also happy because the target was to receive support from the Government.

"If we look at the country where the achievement of badminton is extraordinary, it cannot be separated from the facilities and infrastructure as well as the implementation of sports science," he said.

Badminton is Indonesia's mainstay sport (sports) on important stages such as the Olympics. However, at the 2024 Paris Olympics recently, the achievement of the sport declined.

At that time, badminton only brought home one bronze medal through the women's singles badminton player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.

In fact, throughout Indonesia's participation in the Olympics, badminton is the only branch that can produce a gold medal.

The failure to win gold in Paris matched the record at the 2012 London Olympics.

The problem is, the minor performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics seems to be an affirmation that the decline in Indonesia's badminton performance is still continuing.

Before appearing in France, Indonesian badminton had been highlighted. At its peak, the Red-White Team without a title at home, Indonesia Open 2024.

This year's prestigious title is only All England, where Jonatan Christie and doubles Fajar Alfian/Muhammad Rian Ardianto won.

If you only talk about athletes who qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, only Rinov Rivaldy / Pitha Haningtyas will win the title, namely at the 2024 Spain Masters.

The rest were won by badminton players who did not appear in the 2024 Olympics. Call it Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin (Indonesia Masters 2024), Sabar Karyaman/Muhamad Reza Pahlevi (Spain Masters 2024), Lanny Tria Mayasari/Ribka Sugiarto (Swiss Open 2024), Meilysa Trias Puspita/Rachel Alllessya Rose (Orleans Masters 2024).

In fact, Indonesia must return to fasting for the Thomas & Uber Cup team title. In this year's edition. Red-White only won runners-up in the men's and women's team tournaments.

The last time Indonesia won the Thomas Cup was in the 2020 edition. Uber Cup is much longer, Indonesia has fasted for the title for 28 years.

Badminton and PBSI are indeed golden children. However, the public's eyes are open that the contributor to the Olympic gold medal is not just badminton.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are a place to prove that there are other sports that have potential for Indonesia, namely weightlifting and rock climbing.

The two branches saved Indonesia's face in Paris by bringing home two golds through Rizki Juniansyah and Veddriq Leonardo.

Weightlifting and rock climbing clearly require similar attention so that they can give Indonesia more achievements. Both of them must also have projections for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.