"We must be able to bring equestrian sport to the Olympics. That is why we are currently striving to grow the industry," Ariotedjo remarked after attending an equestrian championship held in Bekasi, West Java, as quoted from the ministry's statement on Monday.
The minister highlighted that Indonesia currently leads in equestrian sport at the Southeast Asian level. According to Ariotedjo, equestrian is also one of President Prabowo Subianto's favorite sports.
For this reason, his ministry, along with the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi), is currently drafting a roadmap to bring equestrian sport to the Olympic stage, with support from collaborations between the public and private sectors.
The minister also expressed his continued support for organizing equestrian championships in the country, including events like The President Cup Aragon Merdeka Master 2025 in Bekasi, being held for the first time.
The championship features two categories: 120 cm jumping (two rounds) and elementary open dressage (two rounds).
He praised the event’s debut, noting the strong enthusiasm from both participants and spectators. He added that the championship also serves as preparation for Indonesia for various multi-sport events such as the SEA Games, Asian Games, and Asian Youth Games.
He noted that the level of enthusiasm was high for this event, as seen from the total of 1,751 entries and 390 horses participating.
The competition includes both an age category (14 to 21 years old) and an open category.
Held in celebration of Indonesia’s 80th Independence Anniversary, the competition carries the spirit of nationalism and sportsmanship, marking a new milestone in the development of equestrian sports in the country.
Related news: Open to collaboration to develop RI's equestrian sports industry: Govt
Related news: Minister targets equestrian development for driving sports tourism
Translator: Aloysius, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
