"We had appointed Balige, North Sumatra, as the location of this academy," Youth and Sports Minister, Dito Ariotedjo, said as noted on the ministry's official website on Thursday.
According to Ariotedjo, this plan is in line with the implementation of the F1 Powerboat Lake Toba event that will last until 2027. Hence, the planned the academy is expected to prepare local athletes to compete in aquabike and powerboat championships.
"This academy aims to prepare Indonesian athletes to compete at the international level," he remarked.
The minister noted that Indonesia already has several talented aquabike athletes since this type of sport has been around for quite a long time in the country.
"Maybe it will take more time to prepare powerboat riders," Ariotedjo stated.
He expressed hope that before the 2027 series, Indonesian riders will be able to participate in aquabike and powerboat championships at the national and international levels.
"For now, we do not have powerboat riders yet, but with this academy, we hope that before 2027, we will have our riders from Indonesia to compete in the powerboat series event at Lake Toba," he remarked.
A representative from the Indonesian Motorcycle Association, Rendy, said that IMI had become a local federation partner for the powerboat federation, Union Interationale Motonautique (IUM).
"In order to develop F1 Powerboat, IMI will hold a national aquabike championship with the title Aquabike Indonesian Championship in four series, where two series will be held in Samosir and Balige," he explained.
The first series of the Aquabike Indonesian Championship will be held as a side event for F1 Powerboat 2024 on March 1-3, 2024, at Lake Toba, North Sumatra.
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Translator: Arindra Meodia, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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