Sport in Indonesia
Sport is popular in Indonesia and this fact occurs on both participation and spectating aspect. Association football is the most popular sport in Indonesia, followed closely by badminton.[1] Sporting events in Indonesia are organised by the Indonesian National Sport Committee (Komite Olahraga Nasional Indonesia or KONI). The organisation, along with the Indonesian government have set the National Sports Day on September 9.[1]
Football
Football is the most popular sport in Indonesia. It is played at all levels, from children to middle-aged men. Domestic league is extremely popular. Some of the major teams include Persija Jakarta, Persib Bandung, Persebaya Surabaya, PSM Makassar, PSMS Medan, PSIS Semarang, Persik Kediri and Arema Malang. The national body is the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI). Indonesian football league started since 1930 in Dutch colonial era. In 1993 PSSI combined two competition to be a professional competition, known as Indonesian League (Liga Indonesia).
On the international stage, Indonesia experienced limited success despite being the first Asian team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup back in 1938. In 1956, the football team played in the Olympics and played a hard-fought draw against then footballing superpower USSR with the legendary Lev Yashin playing under the goal for USSR. With Jakarta being the host, Indonesia won the gold medal for football in the 1962 Asian Games. Indonesia's first appearance in Asian Cup was back in 1996. With a draw against Kuwait in their first match and lost their following two matches against South Korea and the UAE made the team had to pack home early. Until today, the Indonesian national team have always qualified for the Asian Cup. In Asian Cup 2004, the national team recorded their first win in the Cup against Qatar, but the dream of the nation of going to the second round were shattered due to the defeat against China and Bahrain in the following group games.
Indonesia beat Bahrain in 2007 AFC Asian Cup but the qualification dream was again shattered after two defeats by Asian powerhouses South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Badminton
Badminton is Indonesia's most successful sport. Indonesia has won the gold medal in badminton since the sport was first introduced to the Olympics in 1992. In Olyimpc 1992 its came from Alan Budikusuma in single men's, and Susi Susanti in single women's. In Olympic 1996 Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky got gold medal from double men's. In Olympic 2000 Candra Wijaya and Tonny Gunawan also got gold medal from double men's. In the last olympic 2004 Taufik Hidayat got a gold medal from single men's.
Indonesian badminton athletes have played in Indonesia Open Badminton Championship, All England Open Badminton Championships and many international events, including summer olympics ever since badminton is played again in the 1992 Summer Olympics. Rudy Hartono is an Indonesian legendary badminton player, who has succeded to win All England titles six times in a row.[2]
Indonesia is the most nations won Thomas Cup ( Men Nations Badminton Championship ) 13 of 24, and 3 times won Uber Cup ( Women Nations Badminton Championship ).
Polo
Polo and other equestrian sports have a deep history in Indonesia, dating back to 1930s in the era of Dutch settlement. It was not until after the effects of 1998 economic crisis fades away that the equestrian sport, especially polo gains recognition and excitement among Indonesia's polo, equestrian and sport enthusiasts.[3]
In Indonesia, polo is governed by the Indonesian Polo Association which stands together with PP. PORDASI under KONI. The Indonesian Polo Team represents Indonesia in the 2007 South East Asian Games in Thailand and has good results in South East Asian regional competitions. Indonesia until today only has one polo field at Nusantara Polo Club.[4]
Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football is a minority sport in Indonesia which was first played in Indonesia by Australian soldiers in 1945 in Morotai and also Ngada.
It is currently played in Indonesia by expatriate Australian clubs in Jakarta[5], Bali[6] and a club under formation (as of 2006) in Banda Aceh, as well as a league consisting of villagers around the Pancawati area in West Java. The Jakarta Bintangs and Bali Geckoes regularly contest the Java-Bali Cup and participate in the Asian Australian Football Championships.
Founded in 2003, the West Java Australian Football League (WeJAFL) has over 500 local junior and senior players in the local competition.[7] The large number of local players makes it the Asian nation with the highest participation rate amongst locals, although an Indonesian team has not yet appeared at the Australian Football International Cup.
Olympic Games
Asian Games
Indonesia also competes in the Asian Games
South East Asian Games
Indonesia also competes in the South East Asian Games
References
- ^ a b Indonesia - Sports and Recreation http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/indonesia/sports.html
- ^ A- Firsts
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ Jakarta Bintangs
- ^ Bali Geckos
- ^ Flying high in the Pancawati Cup December 31, 2004