Surabaya, October 22, 2024 – As part of the company's commitment to fostering national talent and regenerating weightlifting athletes, PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero) is once again hosting the "2024 National Junior Weightlifting Championship for Ages 18-20" in Surabaya from October 22-24. This marks the third consecutive year that Pupuk Indonesia Group has organized the event, which features dozens of athletes from across the country, including regions as far as Aceh and Papua Pegunungan.

Tina T. Kemala Intan, Director of Human Resources at Pupuk Indonesia, stated that as a state-owned enterprise (SOE), Pupuk Indonesia holds a significant responsibility beyond profit generation by contributing to society. One way it fulfills this is by supporting the development of outstanding athletes, particularly in the field of weightlifting.

"Since 2022, Pupuk Indonesia, along with three of its subsidiaries—Petrokimia Gresik, Pupuk Kalimantan Timur, and Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang—has supported the Indonesian Weightlifting Association (PABSI). We are proud that previous editions of the National Championship have successfully produced talented lifters," Tina remarked during the opening of the 2024 National Junior Weightlifting Championship for Ages 18-20 in Surabaya, East Java.

Pupuk Indonesia's support is expected to inspire young athletes across the nation to showcase their potential in weightlifting. Additionally, participants are encouraged to seize this opportunity to its fullest and become athletes who will bring pride to the nation, both at the national and international levels.

"As an inspiration, we can look to figures like Rizki Juniansyah, who made history as Indonesia’s first gold medalist in weightlifting at the Olympics, along with Eko Yuli Irawan, Rahmat Erwin Abdullah, and Nurul Akmal, who have also achieved remarkable success for Indonesia. They, too, are products of the national championships organized by Pupuk Indonesia," she added.

This year’s championship features around 93 athletes from 22 provincial associations, including those from Aceh and the newly formed autonomous region, Papua Pegunungan. The championship includes 12 weight classes for both male and female junior athletes. Female categories include the 45Kg, 49Kg, 55Kg, 59Kg, 64Kg, and +64Kg classes, while the male categories feature the 55Kg, 61Kg, 67Kg, 73Kg, 81Kg, and +81Kg classes.

It is important to note that all participants have passed the Minimum Total First Lift (MATP) requirements, which include the sum of their first snatch and clean and jerk lifts, as determined by PABSI’s Performance Development Department.

At the same event, the Secretary General of PABSI, Marine Major General (Ret.) Djoko Pramono, expressed his appreciation for Pupuk Indonesia’s comprehensive support in nurturing national weightlifting athletes from the junior to senior levels. These athletes have brought honor to Indonesia at international championships, including the recent Paris Olympics.

"We’ve participated in the Olympics seven times (in weightlifting), and we’ve always brought home medals for Indonesia. It was only recently that we won a gold medal. With Pupuk Indonesia’s support, God willing, we’ll win gold again at the next Olympics. We know that the recent gold medal win wouldn’t have been possible without Pupuk Indonesia’s support," he said.

This year marks the third year of the National Junior Weightlifting Championship, supported by Pupuk Indonesia since 2022. The growing number of participants this year reflects a shared commitment to systematic, tiered, and high-quality athlete development.

According to Djoko, the Junior Weightlifting Championship will have a significant impact on developing future senior athletes at an accelerated pace, potentially leading to success at upcoming international events. "Pupuk Indonesia’s support motivates athletes across the country to excel. We hope this support will continue in the future," he concluded.

At the same venue, the Chairman of the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI), Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Marciano Norman, also expressed his appreciation for Pupuk Indonesia, which has long been a key supporter of PABSI’s efforts in nurturing national weightlifting athletes. He is confident that through this Junior Championship, more talented athletes will emerge, following in the footsteps of seniors like Rizky Juniansyah, who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, and other accomplished athletes.

"The collaboration between PABSI and Pupuk Indonesia sets an example for SOE partnerships. Pupuk Indonesia’s support for PABSI will be repaid with success," he concluded.