A Total Of 96 West Kalimantan Athletes Ready To Compete In Seven Prapopnas Sports

Acting Governor of West Kalimantan Harisson accompanied by Head of the West Kalimantan Porapar Service Windy Prihastari (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - A total of 96 student athletes from West Kalimantan together with coaches are ready to compete in the 2024 Zone II National Student Sports Week (Prapopnas) in Solo, 11 to 18 November.

"These athletes will compete in seven sports, namely football, men's volleyball, men's basketball, pencak silat, boxing, badminton, and tennis, with great enthusiasm to present the best achievements. The West Kalimantan Prapopnas contingent is scheduled to compete in Solo, 11 to 18 November 2024," said Acting Governor of West Kalimantan Harisson in Pontianak, Saturday.

Harisson expressed his appreciation to all the athletes and coaches who were selected through a strict selection at the 2024 West Kalimantan Regional Student Sports Week (Popda). He hopes that this participation in Prapopnas can improve the achievements of West Kalimantan students in the national arena.

"I am proud of our 96 athletes and coaches who are fighting for West Kalimantan. This is an important step to make the region proud," he said.

Harisson added that increasing sports achievements requires support from all parties. The development of student sports is not only the responsibility of the government, but all stakeholders in West Kalimantan.

He also asked the athletes to maintain the fighting spirit and cultivate the mentality of the champion during the match. "Spread the Akcaya flag in every match. There is no surrender when you fight in the arena," he said.

In this time, West Kalimantan athletes are determined to exceed their 2023 Popnas XVI achievement in Palembang, where West Kalimantan won eighth national ranking with 9 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze medals.

In the same place, Head of the West Kalimantan Youth, Sports and Tourism Office (Disporapar), Windy Prihastari, said that the Prapopnas in Solo is also a selection step towards the upcoming National Sports Week (PON).

"We sent the best athletes in seven sports. Prapopnas is an important opportunity for athletes to show off and become the pride of West Kalimantan," said Windy.

Windy added that in Popnas XVI 2023, West Kalimantan athletes recorded brilliant achievements in swimming, athletics, weightlifting, bicycle racing, wushu, boxing, pencak silat, and taekwondo. With this achievement, West Kalimantan managed to record a new history, the first time it penetrated the top 10 nationally.

The 2024 Prapopnas athletes are expected to be able to repeat, even surpassing this achievement. The West Kalimantan Provincial Government fully supports athletes in the hope that they can bring home the best results and bring the good name of West Kalimantan at the national level.