Minister of Youth and Sports Inaugurates the First International Athletic Track in West Sumatra

Menpora Zainudin Amali inaugurated the first international standard athletic track in West Sumatra (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Zainudin Amali, inaugurated the first international standard athletic track in West Sumatra which was built at Padang State University (UNP) West Sumatra in welcoming the 2022 National Student Sports Week (Pomnas).

"This track is very good and of international standard. We have made it official and are trying to do a direct review, the results are indeed good and become the first international standard track in West Sumatra", he said while reviewing the UNP athletic field in Padang, quoted from Antara, Thursday.

He said, with this track, it is hoped that several records will be recorded here and with international standards owned by this track, the records that are born will be recorded perfectly.

"This trajectory affects the recording of records, if this is not standard then no matter how good the record is produced, it will not be recognized", he said.

He invited the people of West Sumatra to be grateful to have an athletic track at Padang State University and to trigger the spirit of the West Sumatran community to produce the best athletes.

According to him, currently, the facilities already exist and it's just a matter of how to use and maintain the current facilities. Usually, he continued, the spirit to build is high but lacks maintenance so the existing facilities are damaged.

West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah appreciated the encouragement of the Minister of Youth and Sports, who had twice come to West Sumatra to check the facilities and infrastructure for the XVII 2022 National Student Sports Week (Pomnas) and this track is one of the competition venues.

He said that the appointment of Padang State University as the organizer of the National Pomnas had received the support of facilities and infrastructure from the central government and this athletic track was one of them.

"We admit that West Sumatra's infrastructure is still far from adequate and without a national sports agenda, it seems a bit too late to fulfill it", he said.

Padang State University Chancellor Prof Ganefri said this track would certainly trigger an increase in West Sumatra's achievements, especially in the athletic branch.

"Hopefully this track gets good maintenance and disciplined managers use sports facilities so that maintenance can run optimally and be put to good use because this is a state asset", he said.

According to him, in addition to the athletic track, UNP has a swimming pool and it targets to hold a national swimming event here.

"We can hold a national swimming championship here. We have more than 5,000 sports students who are ready to advance West Sumatra's sports", he said.