The Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir (PALI) Regency Government continues to demonstrate its commitment to scouting and nurturing the potential of local young athletes. This was demonstrated through the official launch of the 2026 Regional Student Sports Education and Training Center (PPLPD) Program, held at the PALI Regency Youth and Sports Agency (Dispora) Office on Thursday (23/7/2026).
Representing the Regent of PALI, Asgianto, the Regent's Expert Staff for Economy, Development, and Regional Finance, H. Kamriadi, officially opened the program. This strategic initiative is designed to boost regional sports achievements at the student level while ensuring the continuity of their formal education remains a top priority.
The Head of PALI Regency PPLPD, Agus Susanto, explained that this intensive training program will run for six months with a total of 96 training sessions. The training program includes structured routine practices, internal trials (try ins), and external matches (try outs). At this stage, 14 talented student athletes have been selected for coaching, consisting of four athletics athletes, four boxing athletes, and six chess athletes.
To maintain a balance between academic and non-academic achievements, the athletes' training schedules will be flexibly adjusted to their school hours. This tactical step was taken to ensure that the learning process in schools is not disrupted. The Acting Head of PALI Dispora, Amrullah, emphasized that all participants will be evaluated after six months to measure performance development and the effectiveness of the training model.
PALI Regency is currently recorded as one of only two regions in South Sumatra Province that consistently organizes the PPLPD program, along with Musi Banyuasin (Muba) Regency. This year, the program underwent a significant expansion, from previously coaching only one sport discipline to now covering three.
The regional government also emphasized the importance of synergy with families in ensuring the success of this program. The active role of parents is crucial, ranging from maintaining children's discipline, meeting balanced nutrition, monitoring health, building character, to maintaining motivation to study. PPLPD 2026 is targeted to produce top talents capable of making PALI Regency proud on both national and international stages.
