The 2024 PON was held in two provinces, Aceh and North Sumatra, on September 8-20, with a total of 65 traditional and modern sports competed in.
In the 2024 PON, 45 gold medals were up for grabs in the rowing sport. Of that figure, West Java clinched the most medals, emerging as the overall champion with 32 medals, comprising 26 gold medals, four silver medals, and two bronze medals.
For three consecutive PONs, the province, coached by Mohammad Suryadi, became the overall champion in the sport category, surpassing DKI Jakarta, which came second with four gold medals, 12 silver medals, and eight bronze medals.
West Papua came third, with three gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.
Meanwhile, the hosting region, Aceh, finished ninth, while North Sumatra occupied the last position, with no single medal won.
In fact, Aceh, North Sumatra, along with Papua Mountain, Southwest Papua, South Papua, and Central Papua, were allowed to compete in the 2024 PON without going through the qualifying round.
Unfortunately, these regions failed to make the most of the offered privileges.
Deputy General Chairperson III of the Indonesian Rowing Sports Association (PB PODSI), Budiman Setiawan, stated that the 2024 PON is part of Indonesia's initial steps in facing the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the United States.
After the 2024 PON, his side would immediately select rowing athletes with the potential to join the national training center.
Although the Olympics are four years away, preparations must be made earlier.
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Remarkable advantages
Moreover, in the 2028 Olympics, the rowing sport will include rowing beach sprint as a new category to be competed.
In Indonesia, rowing beach sprint is the first to be competed in this year’s PON.
"After this PON, we will conduct a long-term national training to look forward to the 2028 Olympics," Setiawan remarked.
The national training by PB PODSI aims to prepare rowers for the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, the 2026 Japan Asian Games, and the pre-Olympics.
The 2028 Olympics will feature 15 rowing branches, comprising 12 categories in classic rowing and three in rowing beach sprint.
PB PODSI will also comprehensively evaluate the athletes preparing for the 2028 Olympics.
The association does not rule out the possibility of moving athletes from classic rowing to rowing beach sprint.
In the 2024 PON, DKI Jakarta dominated the rowing beach print medals. Of the three categories competed, the DKI athletes won two.
Lola Hanarina Blegur from the coastal woman's solo (CW1X) category and M. Ikbal from the coastal men's solo (CM1X) category won the two gold medals.
In line with Setiawan, Head of the Competition Division of PB PODSI, Benyamin Franklin Tamaka, stated that the 2024 PON is the first step for domestic athletes to prepare for the Los Angeles Olympics.
"The athletes competing in PON can be considered to continue to the national training center, as well as preparation for the 2028 Olympics," Tamaka noted.
Seeing the potential of young rowing athletes, PB PODSI is optimistic about Indonesia sending representatives to the 2028 Olympics.
Living in a maritime country accustomed to water, Indonesian rowing athletes should have a clear advantage in training.
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Need special attention
Reflecting on the achievements of beach rowing athletes at the Asian Rowing Championships held two years ago, PB PODSI believed that Indonesia has a good chance of entering the 2028 Olympics.
To realize this opportunity, rowing athletes at the National Training Center must receive additional training, especially in the areas of technical, physical, and mental endurance.
Regarding mental training, rowing athletes might be able to learn from Melani Putri, a West Java rower who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 PON.
A few days before the 2024 PON, she lost one of her parents. Despite being shaken by the sad news, she proved to be a true professional.
She secured three gold medals from rowing for West Java at the event.
Despite grieving, she was also not weighed down by her status as an Olympic athlete competing in PON.
"I am not too burdened because I have my own responsibilities during this PON,” she remarked.
Another Olympic athlete, Mutiara Rahma Putri, who represented Jambi, also shared the same view. She was enthusiastic about participating in the PON Aceh-North Sumatra.
She contributed two gold medals to Jambi with her experience, training, and discipline in managing time.
However, Mutiara is upbeat about the local government being more proactive by paying special attention to developing their rowers.
She and her colleagues have, so far, only relied on boats prepared by the 2024 PON committee. In fact, during training for the 2024 PON, she still uses the old boat.
"Jambi Province must pay more attention to athletes, especially for the boat and row," she emphasized.
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Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
