West Java PON Team Holds Training Camp In South Korea

The release of the West Java PON contingent to the South Korean training camp (doc. West Java Provincial Government).

JAKARTA - The West Java National Sports Week (PON) contingent held a training camp (TC) in South Korea.

The TC was held for West Java's target to win the overall champion at the 2024 Aceh-North PON XXI.

The release of West Java athletes to South Korea was carried out directly by the Acting Governor of Java and Bararat, Bey Machmudin, at Gedung Sate, Bandung, on Friday, July 5, 2024.

Bey hopes that West Java athletes can win the overall champion for the third time in a row at PON.

"Today, we are releasing Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Budget, Rock Climbing, and Archery. There are already boxing athletes who leave first."

"So, this is our effort by the West Java Provincial Government (Pemerintah Provincial) to be able to pursue the West Java hat trick target of becoming the overall champion of PON," he said.

West Java has won PON twice in a row in 2016 (West Java) and 2021 (Papua) so they are eyeing a hat trick in Aceh-North Sumatra later.

The training camp in South Korea lasted 45 days. In addition to aiming to achieve the West Java target of the PON hat trick, Bey assessed that the training camp in South Korea could be a momentum to achieve higher achievements at the Southeast Asia and even Asia levels.

"We want PON. However, more than that, the level is even higher to the Southeast Asian and Asian championships. So, we should not only pursue national targets, but more upwards," he said.

To athletes who go to South Korea to carry out training camps, Bey advised them to be serious when practicing so that the results can be maximized.

"I heard that in South Korea they train hard because they are disciplined. Don't go far, only the coach of the Indonesian national team, Shin Tae-yong, is very disciplined, very harsh, starting from food, the quality is also very much considered. So, yes, we must be able to imitate," said Bey.

"I hope that the coaches who participate in the same program will also make the same program. Although I am sure that in terms of budget, it will increase because of the calorie protein and it is also calculated properly, the future of our athletes is so that they can speak at a higher level," he said.

Meanwhile, the General Chairperson of the West Java KONI, M. Budiana, reported that the training camp program implemented in South Korea was the implementation of the ongoing Government to Government (G to G) cooperation.

"If with South Korea it happens that the program we both know is G to G between the West Java Provincial Government and Gyeongsangbuk, with others there is no G to G. So it is natural that there is more attention from the Governor," said Budiana.