The Vice Regent of Natuna, Jarmin, SE, officially opened the 2026 Natuna Regency Inter-Village Tournament, which took place at the North Kelarik Village Soccer Field, North Bunguran District, on Saturday (1/8/2026) afternoon. Despite a heavy downpour that delayed the event for an hour, public enthusiasm remained high to witness the start of this popular sporting festival.
The opening of the competition was lively, featuring a traditional welcoming dance ('Tari Persembahan') to greet the guests of honor. The sporting event was also attended by the Chairperson of the Natuna Regency Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), regional agency heads, the Chairperson of the National Sports Committee (KONI) of Natuna, the Head of North Bunguran District, and village heads from across the North Bunguran District.
The Head of North Kelarik Village, who also served as the event organizer, Zapridin, revealed that the tournament schedule had been slightly adjusted from the original plan of July 18 to avoid schedule conflicts with similar activities in other villages. Zapridin added that this competition is an annual agenda that has been running since 2023, after a temporary hiatus in 2025 due to regional budget efficiency policies.
For this edition, the organizing committee has prepared a total prize pool of Rp140 million. This amount will be contested across several sports and traditional games, detailing Rp62 million for soccer, Rp40 million for men's and women's volleyball, and Rp11 million for the traditional spinning top ('gasing') game competition.
In his speech, Vice Regent Jarmin urged all athletes and spectators to always uphold sportsmanship, brotherhood, and togetherness. He hoped that this tournament could serve as a safe, peaceful, and joyful recreational space for all elements of the Natuna community.
The official opening of the competition was symbolically marked by a kick-off by Vice Regent Jarmin in the center of the field, met with thunderous applause from the spectators. The tournament's opening match immediately presented a fierce duel between the host team of North Kelarik Village against Kelarik Air Mali Village.
