The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Jakarta is optimistic that they can win the title of overall champion at the National Sports Week (PON) XXI in Aceh and North Sumatra from September 8 to 20, 2024.

It needs the support of the executive, legislative, and community

With 1,200 athletes, they are targeted to grab at least 207 gold medals.

Jakarta KONI Chairman, Hidayat Humaid said that along June 2024, all the athletes who would compete had undergone various training camp activities at home and abroad, according to the needs of each sport.

"This training includes physical training, improving technique, and sharpening competitive strategies for all the sports that will be participated in," he expressed, Wednesday (7/3).

He went on to say that his party had realized several programs towards the PON XXI 2024. Among them, the implementation of Pelatda tier 1 and 2, BK PON, domestic and overseas TC, domestic and overseas trials and mentoring Pelatda athletes throughout Jakarta Sports .

His side had also held regular evaluations of all athletes who were about to depart. Those who depart must achieve the achievement of passing the PON qualifying round and reaching the top four positions.

"To achieve the overall champion target, hard work is needed from Jakarta KONI and all sports. Of course, it needs the support of the executive, legislative, and community," he asserted.

Jakarta CdM Chair for Aceh-Sumut PON 2024, Fatchul Anas explained Jakarta KONI had visited Aceh-North Sumatra to directly check the readiness for holding the PON XXI. As planned, the Jakarta contingent would compete in 735 competitions from 65 sports.

Of all the sports being contested, Jakarta would not participate in Kabaddi and Indoor Hockey.

To win the overall championship, he said the Jakarta contingent had to win at least 20 percent of the gold medals from the total of 1,045 event numbers contested.

According to him, this optimism was quite reasonable because the achievements of BK PON XXI/2024 Aceh-North Sumatra, Jakarta were in second place with gold medals only behind the West Java contingent.

It was added to the historical data of the Jakarta Contingent's medal winnings during PON activities on the island of Sumatra, namely PON XVI in 2004 in South Sumatra and PON XVIII in 2012 in Riau, which always achieved the maximum result in winning the overall championship.

"In several sports that we rely on, such as roller skating, gymnastics and athletics, we hope that we can perform optimally to gain gold," he stated.