The city of Tanjungpinang has officially carved a golden history in the student sports map of the Riau Islands Province. After a long wait of two decades, the student contingent from the provincial capital was finally crowned the Overall Champion in the X Kepri Regional Student Sports Week (POPDA) in 2026, held in Karimun Regency.
As of Wednesday (8/7/2026), Tanjungpinang dominated the medal tally among other regencies and cities. The contingent managed to collect a total of 82 medals, consisting of 28 gold medals, 27 silver medals, and 27 bronze medals. This achievement also breaks a championship title drought that has lasted for nearly 20 years.
The Mayor of Tanjungpinang, Lis Darmansyah, expressed his deep appreciation for the dedication of the athletes, coaches, and officials involved. According to him, this success was not an overnight result, but the fruit of discipline, hard work, and a consistent development process amidst the challenges of limited sports facilities in the region.
"This is clear proof that fighting spirit and quality development are key factors in producing outstanding athletes. I thank all parties, including school principals and sports teachers, who continue to provide space for students to develop their potential," Lis said.
Furthermore, Lis emphasized that this achievement is not the finish line for Tanjungpinang's student athletes. The City Government is committed to using this moment as a stepping stone to strengthen a sustainable sports development ecosystem, with the hope that the athletes can continue to hone their skills to the national and international levels.
He also advised all young athletes to remain humble and maintain consistency in training. The success of becoming the overall champion is expected to spark the spirit of the younger generation in Tanjungpinang to continue achieving and bring honor to the region in the future.
