In a statement from his office cited on Tuesday, Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo stated that the cooperation focuses on honing the skills of domestic MMA talents aged 10 to 17, preparing them to represent Indonesia at international tournaments.
"I am convinced that this is the right approach, given Indonesia's immense potential in combat sports," he remarked after receiving a visit from AMMAF President Davron Juraev at his office in Jakarta on Monday (February 24).
The minister expressed confidence that this collaboration would also inspire Indonesian pencak silat athletes to pursue careers in MMA.
AMMAF President Juraev underscored his team's determination to improve the MMA scene in Indonesia, as he believes the country holds significant potential in the fighting sport.
He contended that developing young athletes, certifying referees, and sending athletes abroad for training programs are crucial initial steps for Indonesia to advance its MMA landscape.
The AMMAF president also noted that his federation is working towards gaining recognition for MMA from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
Juraev then revealed that he had met with the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) Chairperson Marciano Norman to discuss concrete steps to support MMA development in Indonesia.
The KONI plans to feature MMA in the Indonesia Martial Arts Games, scheduled to be held in Jakarta and Kudus, Central Java, in October 2025.
Meanwhile, the Amateur MMA Association of Indonesia has outlined several strategic plans for this year, including organizing a youth national championship in April, inviting AMMAF to coach and referee workshops, and participating in a youth world championship in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, in August.
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Translator: Muhammad R, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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