Rudianto Wants To Bring Indonesia's Takraw To Compete At The World Level

Chairman of the Riau Indonesian Takraw Association (PSTI), Rudianto Manurung, is included in the candidate for PB PSTI national chairman. (Doc/PSTI RIAU).

JAKARTA The chairman of the Indonesian Takraw Association (PSTI) of Riau Province, Rudianto Manurung, is eager to bring Indonesian takraw to compete on international stages.

Rudianto, who was re-elected by acclamation to lead PSTI Riau for the period 2025-2029, received a lot of support from regional administrators to move up to the national level in the PB PSTI national meeting next month.

He said that his vision was just like that, when he was trusted to lead the national PSTI, namely trying to strengthen the national training camp (Pelatnas) with a meritocracy system, cooperating with long-term sponsors, and ensuring the welfare of athletes as a priority.

"Pak takraw is not a small sport. This is a cultural heritage that can be the pride of the nation," he said in an official statement received by VOI.

He emphasized that the Malay sport is not just a matter of medals, but a matter of self-esteem. He continued, Indonesia as a country that is one of the origins of the takraw tradition, should not only be a spectator in the world arena.

He is determined to bring Indonesia's takraw to win the ISTAF World Championship which is held once every four years and the King's Cup, the most prestigious annual tournament under the Sepaktakraw International Federation.

"If Riau children can win in Southeast Asia, Indonesian children can win the world," he said.

When Rudianto first served as Chairman of PSTI Riau in 2021, the organization was in a near-dead condition. The old management is vacuum, the tournament is quiet, and athletes have lost their way.

He then toured various districts such as Rokan Hulu, Bengkalis, and Indragiri Hilir to revive the spirit of coaches and players.

Two years later, Riau became one of the regions that contributed the most athletes to the Indonesian football national team.

From this Malay land were born names such as Muhammad Hafiz and Wan Annisa, who contributed gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

"Riau children can compete at the Southeast Asian level because they are the result of the hard work of coaching that we planted from the start," he said.

During his leadership, he prioritized tiered coaching. He reproduced local competitions, opened early childhood training, and collaborated with KONI and the Youth and Sports Office to strengthen infrastructure.