Sport in Indonesia

Sports are popular in Indonesia from both the participation and spectating aspect. Association football is the most popular sport in Indonesia, followed closely by badminton.Indonesia - Sports and Recreation http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/indonesia/sports.html] Sporting events in Indonesia are organized 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.Indonesia - Sports and Recreation http://www.cp-pc.ca/english/indonesia/sports.html]

Football

Football is the most popular sport in Indonesia. It is played on all levels, from children to middle-aged men. The 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). The Indonesian football league started around 1930 in the Dutch colonial era. In 1993, PSSI combined 2 competitions to be a single professional competition, known as the Indonesian Football League (Liga Indonesia).

On the international stage, Indonesia experienced limited success despite being the first Asian team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 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 then the lost if the following two matches against South Korea and the UAE, made the Indonesian team come back home early.

The Indonesian national team has always qualified for the Asian Cup. In Asian Cup 2004, the national team recorded their first win in the Cup against Qatar, but the dreams 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 successfully 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.

Australian Rules Football

Australian rules football also played 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 [ [http://www.bintangs.com/ Jakarta Bintangs] ] , Bali [ [http://www.baligeckos.com/ Bali Geckos] ] 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 compete in 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. [ [http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/12/30/1135915691428.html Flying high in the Pancawati Cup] December 31, 2004] 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.

Badminton

Badminton is Indonesia's most successful sport. Indonesia has won a gold medal in badminton in every Olympic Games since the sport was first introduced to the Olympics in 1992. In 1992 it came from Alan Budikusuma in men's singles, and Susi Susanti in women's singles. In 1996 Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky got the gold medal men's doubles. In 2000 Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan won the gold medal in men's doubles. In the 2004 Taufik Hidayat won a gold medal in men's singles.

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 succeeded to win All England titles six times in a row. [ [http://web.ukonline.co.uk/m.gratton/Sport.htm A- Firsts ] ]

Out of all participating nations, Indonesia won the most games in the Thomas Cup (Men Nations Badminton Championship), winning 13 out of 24. In addition to that, Indonesia won the Uber Cup 3 times. (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. Once the effects of 1998 economic crisis faded away, this equestrian sport, especially polo gained recognition and excitement among Indonesia's polo, equestrian and sports enthusiasts. [ [http://npclub.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/curious-history-of-polo-in-indonesia/ History of Polo in Indonesia] ]

In Indonesia, polo is governed by the Indonesian Polo Association which stands together with PP. PORDASI under KONI. The Indonesian Polo Team represented Indonesia in the 2007 South East Asian Games in Thailand and had good results in South East Asian regional competitions. Indonesia only has one polo field at Nusantara Polo Club. [ [http://www.nusantara-polo.com/ Website of Nusantara Polo Club] ]

Competitions

The Pekan Olahraga Nasional (National Games) are held every four years. Indonesia also participates in international sporting events such as the Olympic Games (see Indonesia at the Olympics). the Asian Games and the South East Asian Games.

References