Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Provincial Government of South Kalimantan sent 159 athletes to compete at the 2023 National Student Sports Week (Popnas) held from August 26 to Sepember 4, 2023 in South Sumatra.
South Kalimantan to partake in 14 sports, while the 2023 Popnas competes 22 sports with a total of 335 different competitions.
“Athletes must instill fighting spirit within your selves to achieve victory,” said Governor Sahbirin Noor when sending off them in Banjarbaru, Friday.
He asked all athletes to fight, especially at this time of the moment of the 78th Independence Day by emulating the fighting spirit of the heroes who sacrificed their lives and bodies for the independence of Indonesia.
“I ask the athletes to show the identity of South Kalimantan,” he remarked.
The 2023 Popnas will compete in 22 sports, including wighlifting, athletics, bicycle racing, basketball, indoor voleyball, badminton, rowing, judo, karate, kempo, shooting, archery, rock climbing, pencak silat, swimming, gymnastics, sepak takraw, football, taekwondo, tennis, boxing, and wushu.
However, South Kalimantan will be absent in seven sports, namely weighlifting, bicycle racing, basketball, indoor volleyball, badminton, gymnastics, and wushu.
Previously, South Kalimantan has selected 15 sports, but wrestling was canceled because the 2023 Popnas committee removed this sport from the competition list.
Meanwhile, Head South Kalimantan Youth and Sport Office Hermansyah congratulated all the contingent members representing the province for the Popnas in South Sumatra.
“They were 159 athletes, 38 coaches and 21 assistants,” said Hermansyah.
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