MANOKWARI – West Papua contingent managed to record achievements at the XXI National Sports Week (PON) which took place in Aceh and North Sumatra 2024. West Papua managed to collect a total of 29 medals, which were won from 6 gold medals, 7 silver medals, and 16 bronze medals, leading West Papua to successfully rank from 24th in PON XX in 2021 in Jayapura, West Papua to 22nd in PON XXI Aceh and North Sumatra.
This achievement not only shows an increase for the West Papua contingent, but is a matter of pride because it managed to outperform four provinces in the Land of Papua, except for Papua Province which is in 13th place with a total of 68 medals consisting of 19 gold medals, 26 silver medals and 23 bronze medals.
While the other four provinces in Papua are; Papua Mountains Province with 6 gold medals, 3 bronze medals, a total of 9 medals. Central Papua Province won 4 gold medals, 5 silver medals, 7 bronze medals, a total of 16 medals. Southwest Papua Province with 2 gold medals, 4 silver medals, a total of 6 medals. And South Papua Province won 2 silver medals, 2 bronze medals, a total of 4 medals.
The success of West Papua Province in PON XXI is the result of the hard work of athletes, coaches, and all parties involved in the preparation for PON XXI.
From a number of sports, West Papua showed an impressive performance, in rowing West Papuan athletes won three gold medals by Dessi Welmince Robaha and Pinon Robaha, in male and female stand up paddle numbers, and one bronze medal won by Sisma Rohaba and Herlin Aprilin Lali in the Cano Double 500 meter number.
The success of West Papua in PON XXI is expected to motivate the younger generation of West Papua to be more active in sports and achieve higher achievements in future events.
The management of KONI West Papua and the West Papua Provincial Government must have a strong commitment to improve facilities, coaching programs and athlete welfare to improve sports achievements in West Papua.
Because with the results of PON XXI, West Papuan athletes have proven that they are not just participants, but are ready to compete and at the national level with other provinces to make West Papua proud.
The results of West Papua in PON XXI make all eyes will be focused on what will be achieved by each branch that obtained gold, silver and bronze medals for the West Papua Contingent in PON XXI.