Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Association’s Central Executive Board (PB PRSI) Harlin Erlianto Rahardjo said PRSI is planning to hold a national swimming championship after Papua’s PON XX National Games.

The plan is an effort to attract potential young athletes who have not had the opportunity to compete at the largest sporting event in the country, Rahardjo said when contacted by ANTARA here on Tuesday.

It will also serve as a preparation for the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, which have been postponed until next year, and the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, which are scheduled to be held from September 10-25, 2022, he added.

However, while deciding on holding a national championship, PRSI will first look at the COVID-19 situation, he said.

If the condition improves, there is a possibility for PRSI to hold a national championship in December 2021, Rahardjo added.

“But it is not certain, because we do not know how PPKM (public activity restrictions) and COVID-19 will be like. If it is not possible, maybe (the championship) will happen next year before the SEA Games,” he said.

There is no certainty regarding the new schedule for the Hanoi SEA Games, which were originally supposed to take place from November 21 to December 2, 2021, he added.

However, preparations must still be continued, he said.

“What is still on the next year’s schedule is the 2022 Asian Games (September 10 to 25). We will consider the conditions next year to revive the national championship,” Rahardjo stated.

Organizing a national championship in the midst of a pandemic has its own challenges, he said. “But the training of athletes must still be done,” he affirmed.

According to Rahardjo, the selection of athletes who will be trained at the national training center was last carried out in December 2019.

“From 2020 to 2021, there will definitely be fresh potential athletes. I am sure there must be some of them whose capacity can already qualify for the national team,” he remarked.

Source: Antara News