TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A total of 1,170 athletes and 390 coaches and officials from West Java Province have registered for the 19th national sports week (PON) , entries for which were closed on Friday.

"West Java has passed an important milestone after all the preparations for the 19th PON are nearing fruition and athletes have now registered. This is the largest number of athletes in the history of the provincial contingent," chairman of the West Java's chapter of the National Sports Committee (KONI), Ahmad Saefuddin, stated on Saturday.

The 19th PON 2016 will open on September 17, and will last until September 26.

According to Saefuddin, West Java had sent only 980 athletes to the 18th PON held in Riau Province four years ago.

"West Java's contingent this year is larger than the one that went to Riau, because the province this year received a wild card entry that enables it to participate in all the sports," he pointed out.

On the occasion, Saefuddin urged all the athletes from West Java to put up their best and participate with full gusto in the exercises that will be conducted over the next three months.

All 34 provinces of the country are expected to take part in the National Sports Week.

Besides West Java's contingent, as many as 8,403 athletes from the other 33 provinces will also participate.

ANTARA