The Buleleng Regency contingent achieved a brilliant milestone by sweeping three third-place titles in the Pacentokan Olahraga Tradisional Jantra Tradisi Bali VI. This prestigious competition was organized as an integral part of the XLVIII Bali Arts Festival (PKB) 2026 agenda, held at the East Field of the UPTD Monument of Balinese People's Struggle, Denpasar, from July 2 to 3, 2026.
The three titles won by Buleleng's representatives include the categories of Women's Hadang, Women's Terompang, and Men's Hadang. This success is not only a source of pride for the region but also reflects the strong commitment of the Buleleng Regency Government to preserving cultural heritage while building the character of the younger generation through educational physical activities.
The Secretary of the Culture and Tourism Office of Buleleng Regency, Ariston Adhi Pamungkas, emphasized the importance of traditional sports as a medium for learning sportsmanship, responsibility, and strategy for students. He mentioned that the Buleleng delegation, consisting of 31 selected junior high school students, was the result of a rigorous selection process at the regional level, involving cross-sector collaboration between the Culture Office, the Education Office, and technical support from the Faculty of Sports and Health at Undiksha.
The athlete preparation process was carried out intensively for over a month. The Contingent Coach, Putu Budiarta Mandala, explained that his team focused on strengthening physical conditioning and refining game strategies. Intensive training centered on the beach area proved effective in improving the performance of the 7th and 8th-grade students fielded in the competition.
Furthermore, the organizers from Buleleng hope this achievement will inspire the younger generation to look back at traditional games amidst the dominance of gadget use. Efforts to regenerate athletes will continue to be improved through ongoing evaluation so that traditional sports remain relevant and high-achieving, while also supporting the local government's vision of preserving Bali's cultural identity.
