Government backs sepak takraw team's SEA Games preparation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo confirmed that the government fully supports the Indonesian sepak takraw (kick volleyball) team's preparations for the 2025 SEA Games and the 2026 Asian Games.

"The government will continue to maximally support the training and preparations for the SEA Games and Asian Games," Ariotedjo noted in a statement issued by his ministry.

The minister made this statement at the closing of the Youth and Sports Minister's Championship National Sepak Takraw Selection at GBK Arena, Jakarta, on Thursday.

Present at the event to award medals to the winners, the minister expressed his appreciation for the skills and enthusiasm shown by the young athletes during the national selection.

In the selection, the South Sulawesi B team won the men's doubles event, while the Central Java A team claimed victory in the men's team event.

Both teams demonstrated impressive performances throughout the tournament and managed to outperform strong competitors from other provinces.

Deputy for Sports Achievements Improvement at the ministry, Surono, remarked that the national selection was part of the process of choosing the best athletes for the Indonesian Sepak Takraw National Team, which will compete in various international multi-sports events.

He also noted that sepak takraw is a sport in which Indonesia has frequently bagged medals at both the SEA Games and Asian Games.

Athletes who pass the selection will participate in the national centralized training to prepare for the 2025 SEA Games, scheduled for December 9–20 in Thailand.

In addition to the athletes, coaches with the best performance in the national selection will also participate in the national-level training process.

Surono expressed hope that with thorough preparations that start early, Indonesia would bag gold medals at the 2025 SEA Games.