“Equestrian sport in Indonesia has a good future. If it is combined with sports tourism and sports industry, it will be better to attract more foreign tourists,"
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo encouraged the Central Board of the Indonesian Equestrian Association (PP Pordasi) to focus on equestrian development for driving the sports tourism and industry.

The minister conveyed this at the opening of the 2023 Pordasi Equestrian National Championship at the Jakarta Equestrian Park on Thursday that is also the qualifying round for the 2024 Aceh-North Sumatra National Sports Week (PON).

“Equestrian sport in Indonesia has a good future. If it is combined with sports tourism and sports industry, it will be better to attract more foreign tourists," he noted.

The minister also affirmed that the government fully supports the development of equestrian sport that has the potential to become one of the leading sports for Indonesia.

"We want to show our full support for equestrian sport. In the future, equestrian sport will become one of the superior sports in Indonesia," Ariotedjo remarked.

According to the minister, developing sports for driving the sports tourism and industry is the government's target to attract several world-level sports activities to be held in the country.

Earlier, several world-class sporting events had been held in Indonesia, such as MotoGP, the World Surfing League, the World Rock Climbing Championship, and FIBA World Cup, and the U-17 Football World Cup in the near future.

Some 14 provinces participated in the 2023 Pordasi Equestrian National Championship with 12 categories.

The minister also lauded PP Pordasi for holding a national championship event and demonstrated the association's efforts in training its athletes.

"I appreciate this championship that also plays as a qualifying round for Aceh-North Sumatra PON. This shows that Pordasi has carried out good athlete development. Athletes from 14 provinces are competing to show their best. They must have been the best in their respective region," he remarked.

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Translator: Fajar Satriyo, Resinta S
Editor: Arie Novarina
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