Istiqomah, who was born in Tangerang, Banten, in 2000, will compete in the 52-kg class during the national games, which are held every four years.
Istiqomah, the youngest of Ahmad Halim S and Lanifah's five children, is currently serving in the army's women corps and is stationed at the Cijantung Kopassus Commanding Headquarters in East Jakarta.
She is determined to do her region proud at PON by bringing home a gold medal.
She revealed that she has had some experience in prestigious competitions and is optimistic that she can do her best despite feeling her preparations are lacking compared to her fellow competitors.
"I can say that my preparation is lacking since a few months before the Papua PON I was undergoing training at the army and its branches, in addition to the Kopassus, so my training for PON was inadequate," she told ANTARA here on Tuesday.
"But, I will do the best I can to give it my all to reach the gold medal," she remarked.
"Now, I am more focused in returning the feeling and other techniques, as well as improving my mental state," she remarked.
Istiqomah feels athletes from the Jakarta and West Java contingents will be the most difficult to beat. This is due to the fact that they come from the same class and are fellow athletes from the national training center, she explained.
"In terms of preparation, I may be below my opponents. But, we never know what is going to happen during the match above the mattress. Which is why I hope that I can give it my all in this opportunity," she expounded.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesia National Sports Committee (KONI) of Tangerang district, Komarudin, said that around 55 athletes from the district will represent Banten province at the XX Papua PON.
The athletes will compete in 23 of the 37 sports branches featured in the national games, he added.
"There are 77 athletes who will officially represent Banten province," he informed on September 16, 2021.
According to Komarudin, the athletes who were chosen to represent Banten province were provided support by the regional government through the Tangerang training center.
Thus, the athletes and the coaches will put up their best fight while representing Banten at the national sports event, he said.
"You are all sports patriots from the Tangerang district. Show that you are tough and can obtain an admirable result," he stressed.
Tangerang district head Ahmed Zaki Iskandar advised all athletes from Tangerang district to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship while competing in the PON.
In addition, he requested all athletes, coaches, and officials to comply with the health protocols and do their best for Banten province.
"Have a good fight. All of you are athletes from Tangerang district who will represent Banten province. Maintain your sportsmanship as well as your spirit, and do not give up," Iskandar asserted.
The XX PON will be held in Papua from October 2 to October 13, 2021. Athletes from 34 provinces of Indonesia will compete in 37 sports disciplines at the event.
After the registration, the number of athletes participating in the event has reached 6,144. After including the 922 host athletes, the total figure stands at 7,066 athletes.
The venues for the competition are spread across four regional clusters -- Jayapura city, Jayapura district, Mimika district, and Merauke district.
Several figures have spoken about how the event can benefit Papua's economy, including Jayapura district head Mathius Aoitauw.
"I believe that PON will bring an adequate economic impact, not just in Jayapura, but also in other districts," he remarked during an FMB9 Kominfo online discussion, accessed from here on July 24, 2021.
According to Bhima, a researcher from the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef), the XX Papua PON can drive the local economy if economic events go hand-in-hand with the games.
"The continuation of construction projects (in Papua) is one example of a project that could be synchronized with the PON event," Bhima noted here on July 24, 2021.
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Translator: Azmi Ma'arif, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
