The National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI) of North Penajam Paser (PPU) is undergoing intensive preparations ahead of the East Kalimantan VIII/2026 Provincial Sports Week (Porprov). Scheduled to take place from November 14 to 27, 2026, in Paser Regency, this multi-sport event serves as a platform for PPU to elevate its regional athletic achievements at the provincial level.
The Chairman of KONI PPU, Arfan, stated that his organization has set an ambitious target of breaking into the top four. This target is considered rational given the significant increase in the number of sports disciplines being fielded, totaling 48 disciplines. For comparison, at the previous Porprov event in Berau, PPU sent only 21 sports disciplines and finished in eighth place.
Several key sports, such as archery, kickboxing, boxing, pencak silat, tarung derajat, and muaythai, are projected to be gold medal contributors for the PPU contingent. Currently, 700 athletes have passed verification and are undergoing independent training programs under the strict supervision of each sport's governing body, while KONI periodically monitors the physical development and stamina of the athletes.
To ensure budget efficiency, KONI PPU is implementing a phased departure system for the contingent, tailored to the competition schedule of each sport. The total contingent is estimated to reach 1,200 people, including athletes, coaches, and officials. This strategy is expected to reduce operational costs during the event.
Regarding funding, Arfan explained that his team is overseeing the realization of an Rp8 billion budget, which was adjusted through discussions with the local regional parliament (DPRD). He expressed strong hopes that the regional government can accommodate these needs through the revised budget (APBD), ensuring that all athletes who have qualified through the verification phase can be dispatched without financial obstacles.
