CIBUBUR, PERGATSI – North Sumatra’s gateball team maintained its position among the top three nationally at the 2026 National Gateball Championship, winning five medals: one gold, two silver, and two bronze.
The achievement met the North Sumatra contingent’s minimum target, following its third-place national ranking at the 21st National Sports Week (PON XXI) in Aceh–North Sumatra. The results provide a foundation for improving performance in future competitions.
North Sumatra gateball team coach David explained that the contingent’s target at the 2026 National Gateball Championship was not merely to qualify a number of teams for the semifinals, but to maintain the top-three national ranking it had achieved at PON XXI.
“North Sumatra’s minimum target was to maintain its position among the top three nationally, as we previously ranked third at PON XXI in Aceh–North Sumatra. Thankfully, we achieved that minimum target. We hope to improve on this achievement in the future and, at the very least, avoid falling behind,” David told Lintas in Cibubur on Saturday (October 24, 2026).
The 2026 National Gateball Championship took place from October 20–24, 2026, and featured athletes from various provinces across Indonesia. For North Sumatra, the championship provided an opportunity to assess athletes’ abilities while evaluating the results of its training and development programs ahead of upcoming competitions.
According to David, one of the team’s biggest challenges was the limited time available for athlete selection and finalizing team compositions. The regional selection trials were held only on September 23–24, 2026, requiring the coaching staff to quickly determine the lineup and prepare a training program before departure.
Player selection was based on observation and assessment during practice matches, with team compositions adjusted to meet the requirements of each event. Several athletes also had to compete in multiple events to meet the team’s needs across all 11 events.
“Preparation was indeed short. We selected the team based on our observations and assessments of their performances. There were some changes to the player lineup, but overall, the results have been encouraging,” David said.
Fierce Competition
David said competition at the 2026 National Gateball Championship was intense. One match the team reviewed as part of its evaluation was the mixed team event, in which North Sumatra lost to South Sulawesi after its opponents capitalized on minor mistakes to turn the match around.
“The opposing team also played very well. Both sides kept attacking, but when a small mistake occurred, they were able to capitalize on it and maintain their lead. We appreciate South Sulawesi’s performance,” he said.
In addition to the intense competition, limited match experience remains an area for improvement for North Sumatra. David explained that several athletes who had previously been key players had returned to their respective regions, making continuity in training a challenge, particularly in preparing the men’s team event.
Nevertheless, winning five medals provides an important foundation for North Sumatra to improve its athlete development programs and prepare for future competitions.
Proposals to Improve Championship Standards
In addition to evaluating athlete performance, David offered several recommendations to improve the organization of future championships. One proposal was to provide a scoreboard that spectators could view directly.
He explained that clearly displayed scores would help spectators follow the progress of matches while increasing their engagement and enthusiasm throughout the competition.
“A scoreboard is very important. Spectators can see the scores in real time, helping them better understand the matches and increasing their enthusiasm,” he said.
David also proposed increasing the number of linesmen, or line judges. He noted that a single official could become overwhelmed when required to monitor play and retrieve balls from different areas of the field.
Additional officials would help ensure smoother matches while reducing the risk of fatigue and injury.
To improve organizational efficiency, he also suggested involving regional contingents on a rotating basis to assist with technical match duties, subject to the organizing committee’s requirements and applicable regulations.
“If possible, members of the participating contingents could take turns assisting with refereeing or serving as linesmen. Besides helping with event operations, they would also gain experience and a better understanding of the game,” he said.
Preparing for the National Sports Week Qualifiers
Looking ahead to upcoming competitions, including the National Sports Week Qualification Round (BKPON), David highlighted the importance of match duration and playing-field availability.
He said that if all 11 events were to be contested, organizers would need to allocate sufficient time, particularly when the number of available courts was limited.
David also proposed that semifinal and final matches adopt a duration of two 30-minute periods to promote fairness and improve the quality of competition among athletes.
In his view, consistent match durations would give every team an equal opportunity to demonstrate its best performance.
David hopes the experience gained at the 2026 National Gateball Championship will help North Sumatra strengthen its preparations, gain more competitive experience, and maintain its achievements in future competitions.
From an organizational perspective, technical improvements are expected to support national gateball competitions that are better organized, more efficient, and of higher quality. (PAH/ROY)
