Rely On Young Athletes, DKI Jakarta Athletic Team Prioritizes Regeneration At PON Papua

Ken Ayuthaya Purnama is one of the mainstay athletes of the DKI Jakarta Contingent who will compete in the 100 meter women's hurdles event for the Papua PON (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta athletic team relies on young athletes at the XX Papua National Sports Week (PON) as well as an effort to maintain regeneration.

"The composition is 75 percent young athletes. This step is taken so that the regeneration of athletes is maintained," said the manager of the Jakarta athletics team, Muriyanto, to Antara.

Even though they field young athletes, continued Muryanto, they can compete and are optimistic that they can achieve maximum results in the biggest sporting event in the country.

"They managed to pass the previous qualification. Automatically they are worthy and able to compete with other senior athletes in the Papua PON later," added Muriyanto.

Overall, the Capital City squad consists of 32 athletes who will compete in 25 of the 48 events contested. Of these, seven of them are athletes who are included in the national training center (Pelatnas).

Like Frederick Saputra and Diva Renata who will compete in the men's and women's pole vaults. In addition, there is Jeany Nuraini who is scheduled to compete in two events, namely the women's 100m and the women's 4x100m relay together with Emilia Nova.

In the men's 100 meter number, there are two names, namely Bayu Kertanegara and Wahyu Setiawan. Then one other name is Odekta Elvina Naibaho who will compete in three events, namely, 5000 meters, 10,000 meters and marathons.

With this composition, Muriyanto said the Jakarta athletic team has set a target of eight gold medals. They will depart from Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang on October 3, 2021 in the morning WIB.

The competition for athletics will be held at Mimika Sport Complex (MSC), Mimika Regency on October 4-15, 2021. "The Jakarta contingent does depart in stages according to the match schedule," said Muriyanto.

He also appreciated DKI Jakarta's athletes who had struggled so that they temporarily led the medal standings. Until this news was revealed, the Capital City squad had collected 21 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze.

"Athletes who have fought and won medals have inspired us to be able to achieve the best results. Please and support so that we can give maximum results in this Papua PON," concluded Muriyanto.