Ten athletes from Papua won 18 medals at the Eastern Indonesia Roller Championship (EIRC) 2026, held at Karebosi Field in Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), from October 9 to 11. The achievement by athletes developed under the Indonesian Roller Sports Association’s Papua provincial organization, known as Porserosi Papua, highlights the talent emerging from the province and the promise of sustained investment in youth sports development.
The team’s medal tally included gold, silver, and bronze awards across several age groups and competitive categories. Among the standout performers were twin sisters Nadila Putri Ramadhani and Nabila Putri Ramadhani, who together collected eight medals, including gold in the 1,800-meter relay. Eight other athletes competing under Jayapura Inline Skate (JIS) contributed another 10 medals.
Their performance came at a championship that brought together 362 participants from five provinces and 18 roller-skating clubs. The event provided young athletes with an opportunity to test their skills against competitors from different training environments while strengthening sporting relationships across eastern Indonesia.
For Papua, the results offer more than a medal count. They demonstrate how local athlete development can produce competitors capable of performing beyond their home province, while giving younger skaters examples of what disciplined training and competition can achieve.
Makassar Championship Brings Together Eastern Indonesia
Three Days of Regional Competition
The EIRC 2026 took place at Karebosi Field, one of Makassar’s prominent public sporting venues. The competition officially opened on Friday, October 9, with Makassar Deputy Mayor Aliyah Mustika Ilham attending the opening ceremony.
Organized by the Squirrel Roller Skate Club, the championship attracted 362 participants representing 18 clubs from five provinces. It served as a competitive platform for athletes while also bringing together coaches, club administrators, and supporters involved in roller sports development.
Aliyah welcomed the participation of athletes from different regions and praised the organizers and other parties involved in staging the championship. She said sporting competitions could serve a purpose beyond determining winners, helping young people develop discipline, sportsmanship, and perseverance.
“The presence of athletes from various regions shows that roller skating is growing and becoming increasingly popular among young people,” Aliyah said, according to Macassar.id. She also expressed hope that the championship would help produce athletes capable of representing Makassar, and Indonesia more broadly, at national and international competitions.
Those objectives were reflected in the event’s regional character. Competitors were able to measure their abilities against athletes they might not regularly encounter in local training sessions. Coaches and club representatives could also observe different racing approaches, compare performance, and build relationships that may support future competitions.
For developing athletes, such exposure is valuable. Competition introduces pressures that cannot always be reproduced during practice, including the need to manage nerves, respond to opponents, and maintain concentration during a race. These experiences can help young skaters identify strengths and areas requiring improvement.
The championship also highlighted the importance of regular competition in the development of roller sports across eastern Indonesia. As participation expands, events that bring clubs together can provide a pathway for emerging athletes to gain experience before pursuing higher-level contests.
Twin Sisters Lead Papua’s Medal Haul
Nadila and Nabila Deliver Eight Medals
A major highlight of Papua’s performance was the contribution of twin sisters Nadila Putri Ramadhani and Nabila Putri Ramadhani. Although both competed for SQRL Makassar during the championship, they are athletes developed under Porserosi Papua. Their results illustrate how athletes trained in one region can continue to represent that development pathway while gaining competitive experience through clubs elsewhere.
Nadila collected five medals: one gold, two silver, and two bronze. Her gold came in the 1,800-meter relay, while her silver medals were recorded in the 1,000-meter and 500-meter events. She also won bronze in the 200-metre individual time trial and the 5,000-metre event.
Nabila added three medals to the overall total. She won gold in the 1,800-meter relay, silver in the 200-meter individual time trial, and bronze in the 1,000-meter event. Together, the twins accounted for eight medals, making them important contributors to the Papua-developed athletes’ performance in Makassar.
Their relay gold was particularly notable because relay racing places demands on coordination as well as individual speed. Competitors must maintain pace, understand the sequence of the race, and work together within the rules of the event. Success therefore reflects both individual preparation and the ability to perform as part of a team.
The twins’ results across sprint, time-trial, and longer-distance events also demonstrate the range of skills required in roller sports. Shorter races place a premium on acceleration and speed, while longer events require athletes to manage energy and maintain technique over a greater distance.
Their performance offers a useful example for younger skaters in Papua. Athletes can develop across multiple disciplines, but doing so requires structured training, competition experience, and a consistent approach to improving technique.
Jayapura Inline Skate Adds 10 Medals
A strong contribution across the team
The other eight athletes, who competed under Jayapura Inline Skate, secured 10 medals: two gold, two silver, and six bronze. Their combined results completed Papua’s total of 18 medals at the championship.
Farlis Putra Usulu contributed a silver medal in the 500-metre event and a bronze in the relay. Mario Pongdatu earned two bronze medals, one in the 5,000-meter event and another in the relay. Muhammad Ayub Khan was also part of the relay trio that secured bronze.
These results show how a team’s overall performance can be built through contributions from athletes competing in different events. A medal tally does not depend on one standout racer alone. It reflects the combined efforts of sprinters, endurance competitors, and relay teams, each of whom brings a different set of skills to the competition.
For clubs such as Jayapura Inline Skate, participation in regional events provides a way to assess the progress of training programs. Results can help coaches identify which athletes are developing consistently, where technique needs attention, and how training should be adapted for future competitions.
The six bronze medals won by JIS athletes also represent valuable competitive experience. At youth and regional levels, athletes can learn from close finishes, changes in race pace, and the challenge of competing against unfamiliar opponents. The lessons from these races can be as important for long-term development as the final positions themselves.
Young Papua Athletes Show Promise
Medals Across Beginner and Age Group Categories
Papua’s results extended beyond the more experienced competitors. Athletes in the younger age groups also reached the podium, providing encouraging signs for the next generation of roller skaters.
Dzaky Azzura Maulana, Jovita Beatrix Putri Guntara, and Giandra Azka Argatsani won bronze medals in age-group categories. Meanwhile, Rengganis Dwi Melona and Sangsaka Asian Kaamil secured gold medals in the Beginner category.
These achievements are important because a sustainable sporting program depends on a steady flow of young athletes entering the sport and developing their abilities over time. Early competition experience can introduce children to the discipline of training, the value of teamwork, and the importance of respecting opponents and officials.
Beginner and age-group events also allow young competitors to measure progress against athletes at a comparable stage of development. At this level, the emphasis should extend beyond medals to include technique, confidence, safe training habits, and enjoyment of sport.
For Papua, the presence of younger medal winners offers a reason to continue strengthening grassroots participation. Their results suggest that talent is not limited to one generation of athletes, although consistent coaching and access to appropriate facilities will be important in helping them progress.
A long-term pathway should enable beginners to develop their basic skills, move into more demanding age-group events, and eventually compete at higher levels. Regular training, qualified coaching, and a calendar of competitions can help make that progression more predictable.
Porserosi Papua Emphasises Long-Term Development
Building a Stronger Foundation for Athletes
Mika Sapan, chairman of the Papua provincial leadership of Porserosi, welcomed the athletes’ results and described them as evidence of the organization’s commitment to improving athlete development.
“This outstanding achievement is clear evidence of our commitment to organizational improvement. Our focus is on building a strong and well-directed foundation,” Mika said, according to a statement reported by RRI on October 18, 2026.
His remarks place the Makassar results within a wider effort to strengthen the structure of roller sports in Papua. Winning medals is an important milestone, but lasting progress also depends on the quality of training, the development of coaches, and the availability of safe facilities and opportunities for athletes to compete regularly.
Porserosi Papua has indicated that it will continue supporting training facilities for its athletes. Maintaining a reliable training environment is essential in a sport that requires repeated practice to develop balance, speed, endurance, and control.
Athletes also benefit from structured feedback. Coaches can use competition results to assess race strategy, technical consistency, and individual performance under pressure. Training plans can then be adjusted to address weaknesses and prepare competitors for the demands of future events.
The 18-medal result provides a useful reference point for that work. It shows that Papua-developed athletes can produce strong results in a multi-province championship while also identifying a group of young competitors who can continue building experience.
The next challenge is to translate the momentum from Makassar into sustained development. That means ensuring that the achievements of the current team are followed by progress among younger skaters and that the organization continues to build a clear pathway from beginner participation to higher-level competition.
Sport as a Platform for Regional Pride and Opportunity
The EIRC 2026 results have significance beyond the race track. Sporting achievement can help young people develop confidence, establish friendships across regions, and represent their communities in a shared national setting.
The championship’s participation from five provinces created opportunities for interaction between clubs and athletes from different backgrounds. Such exchanges can strengthen relationships within the sporting community and encourage participants to learn from one another.
For athletes from Papua, competing in Makassar also provides exposure to a wider sporting environment. It allows them to demonstrate their ability in front of new opponents and gives coaches a chance to compare development standards across clubs.
These opportunities are particularly valuable for young athletes who are still building their competitive experience. A regional championship can become a stepping stone towards national events, provided athletes continue to improve and have access to appropriate preparation.
The performance also contributes to the broader visibility of Papua’s sporting talent. The province is widely associated with strong participation in several sports, and the roller-skating results add another example of young athletes developing the skills to compete outside their home region.
However, the long-term significance of the achievement will depend on what follows. Sustained progress requires consistent training, good coaching, athlete welfare, transparent selection processes, and opportunities for emerging competitors to gain experience. The results in Makassar offer encouragement, but continued development will determine whether the current generation can build on its success.
Conclusion
The 10 athletes developed under Porserosi Papua returned from the EIRC 2026 with 18 medals, including gold, silver, and bronze awards across several competitive categories. Nadila and Nabila Ramadhani led the tally with eight medals, while Jayapura Inline Skate athletes contributed another 10. Younger competitors also made their mark, with podium finishes in beginner and age-group events.
The championship in Makassar brought together 362 participants from five provinces and 18 clubs, offering Papua’s athletes a valuable opportunity to test their abilities in a broader competitive setting. Their performance demonstrates the potential of local athlete development and the value of regular regional competition.
The next step is to turn this success into a sustained pathway for the sport. Continued coaching, training opportunities, and youth participation will help athletes improve their performance and prepare for more demanding competitions.
For Papua, the 18 medals are both an achievement to celebrate and a foundation for future work. The results show what local talent can accomplish, while the progress of the younger athletes offers a reason to look ahead with confidence. If training and competition opportunities remain consistent, Papua’s roller skaters will have a stronger basis from which to pursue further success at national and international levels.
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