Friday, 23 October 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Preparations for Medan's delegation to the 12th North Sumatra Provincial Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Provinsi Sumatera Utara, Porprovsu) 2026 have come under criticism from several sports associations. They have raised concerns over unclear coordination, a lack of certainty regarding technical support and equipment provision, and the absence of a properly defined training camp programme. All these factors are crucial to achieving success in the province-wide sporting competition.
Porprovsu XII is scheduled to take place from 7 to 15 November 2026. With the opening of the competition approaching, several sports associations say they have yet to receive comprehensive information about athletes' needs and the delegation's preparation procedures. Responsibility for preparations has now been transferred to the Medan City Youth and Sports Office (Dinas Pemuda dan Olahraga), which has taken over the role previously held by the Medan City branch of the Indonesian National Sports Committee.The situation has raised concerns among association representatives. In their view, simply registering athletes or providing certain items of equipment is not enough. The Medan City Government must also ensure effective coordination so that every sports association receives clear guidance on preparing its athletes.
Bobby Oktavianus Zulkarnaen, chairman of the Medan City branch of the Tarung Derajat organisation, an Indonesian martial art, criticised the Youth and Sports Office for failing to provide a clear timetable for the delegation's preparations.According to Bobby, the information provided so far has largely been limited to the supply of certain items, such as sportswear and shoes. A reliable overview of the preparation status of individual sports associations and other necessary measures remains unavailable.
"So far, there has been no clarity. The Youth and Sports Office has only informed the sports associations about the provision of equipment such as clothing and shoes for the athletes. There are still no clear arrangements for the other preparations; the situation remains much as it was before," Bobby told reporters.He stressed that the Youth and Sports Office's decision to take responsibility for the delegation must be accompanied by comprehensive planning. Only then can the sports associations understand what support the city government will provide and adjust their training and development programmes to meet the demands of the competition.
"If the office genuinely intends to take charge of organising Porprovsu, it must do so comprehensively. Its responsibilities must not be limited to areas for which budget allocations have already been made," he said emphatically.Medan has considerable sporting potential within North Sumatra. That potential must be supported through systematic development, continuous coaching and appropriate technical preparation. Without clear procedures, sports associations risk struggling to establish their priorities during the remaining preparation period.
Bobby hopes Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas will also consider the issue from the perspective of sports development and athletic performance. He urged the city government to put athletes' needs at the centre of decisions concerning preparations for Porprovsu XII 2026."We hope the mayor will view this matter from a sporting perspective rather than a political one. Most athletes are not concerned with politics. What matters most to them is competing and achieving sporting success," he said.
In Bobby's view, athletes need clear arrangements so that they can concentrate on training and their performance targets. The city government must therefore ensure that the organisation of the delegation reflects the actual needs of those involved on the ground.He also warned that unclear responsibilities could make it more difficult for sports associations to prepare their athletes, particularly as the competition draws closer. Each association needs a preparation plan tailored to the specific requirements of its discipline.
"If the Youth and Sports Office intended from the outset to take responsibility for the sports associations participating in Porprovsu, it should have done so from the beginning. We would then know what steps to take to manage preparations and achieve our goal of making Medan the overall champion," he said.
Similar criticism came from Adol Frian Rumaijuk, chairman of the Medan City branch of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Persatuan Tinju Amatir Indonesia, Pertina). He said his association had received a letter from the Medan City Youth and Sports Office requesting details of athletes and coaching staff for Porprovsu XII 2026.
However, Adol said the data collection exercise did not address the technical issues that needed to be resolved to prepare athletes effectively. His association requires more detailed information about competition equipment, sportswear, financial support and planned training camps.He explained that the letter requested information about coaches, athletes, bank accounts and gender. However, no clear and binding information had been provided about competition equipment or the wider preparation programme.
"The Youth and Sports Office recently sent us a letter requesting details of our team. However, the letter did not address competition equipment or other necessary requirements. There is still no clarity about the training camp either," Adol said.He acknowledged that registering athletes and support staff was an important part of the organisational preparations. Nevertheless, data collection needed to be followed by information about the next stages of preparation. This would allow those responsible to plan their coaching and training programmes systematically and monitor their implementation.
Reliable information about equipment and training camps is also essential to help athletes maintain their physical fitness, improve their technical abilities and develop strategies for facing their opponents. Since each sport has different requirements, early coordination is crucial to ensuring that the entire delegation is ready to compete.Adol hopes the Medan City Government will respond promptly and facilitate direct discussions with the sports associations. He also called for clear timetables and binding procedures so that those responsible can align their training programmes with the competition schedule.
"We hope we can meet the mayor and that the meeting will lead to concrete follow-up action. So far, however, there has been no response and no clear timetable, so our optimism is gradually fading," he concluded.With the competition scheduled for 7 to 15 November 2026, the need to provide binding information about athletes' requirements, equipment, training facilities and planned training camps is becoming increasingly urgent. Sports associations need consistent and reliable updates to organise their preparation phases and avoid wasting valuable time.
The ambition to secure the overall championship title requires more than athletes' abilities on competition day. Careful planning, effective coordination, technical support and continuous sports development also play important roles in determining the delegation's overall results.Sports association representatives hope the Medan City Youth and Sports Office will soon clarify responsibilities and present a comprehensive preparation programme. This would give athletes and coaches greater certainty, allowing them to concentrate on training and compete for sporting success on behalf of their city.
Porprovsu XII 2026 offers Medan an opportunity to demonstrate the results of its regional sports development efforts. Open communication and support tailored to actual needs will therefore be essential to achieving the city's sporting ambitions while ensuring athletes have the best possible conditions in which to perform. (IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
