TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi expects the new chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association Central Executive Board (PP PBSI) Wiranto to fully focus his attention on the management of the association and monitor the national training program (pelatnas).
“We would like to congratulate the new chairman on his election. We are calling for his full commitment to the PBSI chairmanship. We expect him to adopt a hands-on approach,” Imam Nahrawi said on Wednesday, November 2, as quoted by Antara news agency.
The PP PBSI has unanimously elected its new chairman Wiranto to replace Gita Wirjawan. The man who also serves as the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs will lead the PBSI until 2020.
Wiranto faces tough challenges ahead. In the next four years, the PBSI will have to prepare its athletes to compete in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2020 Olympics.
“Badminton has been relied upon heavily [to win medals]. I’m hopeful that the tradition of winning gold medals can continue in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and other championships as well,” Imam said.
Sports Minister Imam had previously expected that Indonesian major sports associations would not be chaired by officials who already hold a public position. Chairmans are expected to focus and adopt a hands-on approach to preparing future athletes.
Wiranto, however, has expressed his commitment to developing better badminton athletes who would win more titles.
ANTARA
