SEMARANG – The XVI Korpri 2023 National Sports Week (Pornas) series in Central Java is officially rolling. The Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Abdullah Azwar Anas opened the biennial event on Friday (14/7/2023) at Jatidiri GOR, Semarang.

In the excitement of the agenda of Pornas XVI Korpri which was attended by civil servants throughout Indonesia and ministries/institutions, it was seen that the Daily Executive of Papua Governor Muhammad Ridwan Rumasukun was present accompanied by Papua Regional Secretary Derek Hegemur on the VVIP bench.

Governor Ridwan seemed to smile when he saw the Papua Province parade followed by several new autonomous regions of Papua. The roar of the audience in the stands also blared when the name of Papua Province was pronounced by the host.

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who was present as the host, also raised his hands to the Papuan defile parade participants who passed in front of the stage.

"I think it can give encouragement to the athletes who will compete tomorrow. Futsal, Basketball and Tennis will face their opponents tomorrow."

"Moreover, it is possible that there will be a match that the Governor will watch. Then tonight (Friday, ed) the governor was at the opening of Pornas Korpri, we hope of course his (governor's) existence will encourage athletes to bring out their best abilities tomorrow and upcoming competition, "explained the Head of the Papua Communication and Informatics Department, Jeri A. Yudianto, Friday night, on the sidelines of the opening of Pornas Korpri XVI Central Java.

It is known that 101 contingents and at least 6,000 official athletes and coaches are registered to participate in the 2023 KORPRI National Pornas held from July 13-23, 2023. The sports that will be competed in Pornas Korpri this year are 10 sports. Namely, futsal, gate ball, Korpri gymnastics, badminton, table tennis, tennis, basketball, volleyball, bicycle racing and chess.

Present at the opening ceremony were the Chairman of the National Management Council (DPRN Korpri) Zudan Arif, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo and the board of Central Korpri.

For the venue used, Jatidiri (tennis and volleyball), Undip Sports Center (futsal), Tri Lomba Juang (table tennis, badminton and gateball), Ghradika Hotel(chess), Sahabat Sports Center (basketball), and Diponegoro Stadium (velodrome bike race).

In the first match of the Papuan contingent in Pornas Semarang, two prestigious sports, Futsal and Basketball will start competing on Saturday (15/7).

Korpri Papua futsal is in group A with Bappenas, Ministry of Health and Coordinating Ministry of PMK with half-competition matches from 62 teams divided into 16 groups.

Papua is in pool A for basketball with Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan from 42 teams divided into 14 pools. ***