Deploy 20 Athletes At All Tatami Kick Boxing Championship 2022, Jakarta Targets Overall Champion

Jakarta kick boxing athlete David Leonardo (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Province sent as many as 20 athletes to participate in 2022 All Tatami Kickboxing Championship which took place at the Widya Kartika Building, Surabaya on January 28-30. They aim to be the overall champion.

The Chairperson of the DKI Jakarta Kick Boxing Indonesia Provincial Management, Yoko Arthi Budiman, said there were several reasons for sending many athletes, including the first regional commitment to compete in the tatami category at the 2021 Jakarta Open Kickboxing.

"The potential of Indonesian kickboxing athletes to achieve achievements is not only in the ring but also on the tatami. So, I sent 20 athletes as a commitment because the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is listed as a pioneer in starting the Tatami category", Yoko said as quoted by Antara, Friday.

According to him, DKI Jakarta athletes need flying hours to better understand the rules of the game. For this reason, it is hoped that the championship in Surabaya can be put to good use by athletes who are competing in the ring.

The coach of the DKI Jakarta kickboxing team, Marlaut Farhan Hutapea, said that the 20 athletes who were sent had specialties, namely three each for kick lights and Lights Contact. Then seven each for Point Fighting and Musical Creative Form.

The athlete sent to Surabaya was the result of a selection from the 2021 Jakarta Open Kickboxing and the target in the championship was to win the overall title.

"Our preparations are quite good. Hopefully, we can dominate the gold medal as well as the overall champion", he said.

The owner of H-Brother MMA Camp has studied kickboxing coaching programs for a year in Thailand. The actions of this Batak and Javanese blooded man have produced quite a several outstanding kickboxing athletes including Raul Pinem and David Leonardo.

Raul Pinem, who has only been training for over a year, has appeared to represent Indonesia at the Kickboxing World Championship in Italy 2021. Now, Raul, who is being prepared to appear at the SEA Games Hanoi, Vietnam 2022, is ranked 1st in National Kickboxing, ranked 42 out of 109 MMA Fighters Bantam Weight Division in Southeast Asia, and ranked in the Top 10 of One Pride MMA.

Meanwhile, Leo's nickname, David Leonardo, who appears in the 56 kg class, has never been lost. He was ranked 2nd nationally, ranked 42 of the 93 MMA Fighters Flyweight Division in Southeast Asia, and ranked in the Top 10 of One Pride MMA.