CENTRAL PAPUA – Papuan athletes who are members of the decentralized Athletics National Training Center Team in Mimika, Mimika Regency, Central Papua successfully brought four medals at the 84th Singapore Open Track and Field Championships at the Singapore Sports Hub which took place on 18-19 April 2024.
Athlete Mergina Asyerem won a Gold medal in the women’s 400 meter run with a record time of 56.30 seconds and got a Silver medal in the women’s 200 meter run with a record time of 25.35 seconds, the Gold medal was also won by Vincensia Awuwet Amjaram in the women’s long jump with a record of 5.75 meters and while Eventinus Gebze recorded a throw of 61.76 meters and managed to rank 3rd in the final and at the same time brought home a Bronze Medal.
“Congratulations to the athletes who have excelled in international tournaments, Freeport Indonesia is proud and appreciates this achievement, PTFI will continue to support Indonesian athletes to train at the Papua Athletic Center-Mimika Sport Complex and once again congratulations and continue to make Indonesia proud from Papua,” said PT Freeport Indonesia Director and Executive Vice President (EVP) Sustainable Development Claus Wamafma.
The Mimika Decentralized Athletics Training Center sent six athletes to the competition, including Eventinus Gebze in the javelin and discus throw, Silfanus Ndiken in the javelin, Paustinus Obed Basik Basik in the 100-meter dash, Mandala Putra Rumaikewi in the 400-meter dash, Mergina Asyerem in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash, and Vincensia Awuwet Amjaram in the long jump. Silfanus Ndiken came close to a medal in the javelin throw, but had to settle for fourth place with a throw of 60.47 meters, just as Mandala Putra Rumaikewi competed in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.82 seconds, while sprinter Paustinus Obed Basik finished the 100-meter race in 11.31 seconds and placed 15th.
Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Athletics Association Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan expressed his appreciation and pride for the achievements obtained by the athletes of the Mimika Decentralized Athletics Pelatnas, because this is their first experience performing at international level competitions, “This achievement is proof of the hard work, dedication, and high commitment of the entire team, we are proud of what our athletes have achieved in Singapore, this success is a motivation and inspiration for our young athletes to continue to develop and excel in the international arena,” said Luhut Binsar.
The Mimika Decentralized Athletics National Training Program is a collaboration between PB PASI and PT Freeport Indonesia which aims to improve the performance of athletes from Papua and provide opportunities to hone their talents.
In this cooperation program, PT Freeport Indonesia provides facilities for training at the Mimika Sport Complex (MSC), PT Freeport Indonesia built the MSC equipped with a 1,455 m2 athletic arena and gym facilities to support intensive training to prepare athletes for competitions both at the national and international levels.
