MEDAN, LINTAS – The North Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Gateball Association (Pergatsi) is entering a new phase in the development of gateball through the inauguration of its new provincial executive board, alongside the North Sumatra Governor’s Cup Open Gateball Tournament.
Scheduled for June 26, 2026, the event is more than a ceremonial organizational gathering. It marks a strategic milestone in strengthening athlete development, introducing gateball to the wider public, and reinforcing the association’s organizational structure across regencies and municipalities throughout North Sumatra.
Chairman of Pergatsi North Sumatra, Ir. Doli Sinomba Siregar, said all preparations for the event had been carefully finalized. The inauguration was intentionally scheduled to take place at the gateball venue to allow the public to experience the sport and its facilities firsthand.
“We have thoroughly prepared for the inauguration on June 26, 2026. We decided to hold it in the evening so that more people can become familiar with the gateball venue and its facilities. We want to introduce this sport to the people of North Sumatra and encourage greater public interest,” Doli told Lintas during an interview at his office in Medan on Thursday (June 25, 2026).
According to Doli, prior to the inauguration ceremony, Pergatsi North Sumatra has been organizing the North Sumatra Governor’s Cup Open Gateball Tournament, which began several days earlier and will culminate in the championship match on the day of the inauguration.
The series of events is designed to allow the public not only to watch competitive matches but also to take part in celebrating the installation of the new provincial leadership.
Following the inauguration, the organizing committee will present awards to the tournament winners. The following day, Pergatsi North Sumatra will hold a provincial working meeting involving executive boards from regencies and municipalities across the province.
Pergatsi North Sumatra held an inauguration ceremony for its new board members, held in conjunction with the North Sumatra Governor's Cup Open Gateball Tournament. Doc./Pergatsi
Doli revealed that the organization has made significant progress in expanding its regional structure during the current leadership period.
“We are grateful that we have successfully established 16 regency and municipal chapters, compared to only six previously. All of them will participate in the provincial working meeting, including prospective regional committees that are still in the formation process as observers,” he said.
In addition to the working meeting, Pergatsi North Sumatra is preparing training programs for coaches and referees as part of its efforts to strengthen its human resource capacity. The curriculum will be developed by the association’s achievement development and refereeing divisions, with instruction provided by experienced gateball professionals.
Introducing Gateball
Efforts to promote gateball extend beyond tournaments. Pergatsi North Sumatra is also utilizing outdoor media, including billboards and digital LED displays (videotrons), installed at several strategic locations across Medan to raise public awareness of the sport.
Doli explained that the promotional materials feature athletes in action, giving the public a clearer understanding of how gateball is played, as the sport remains relatively unfamiliar to many Indonesians.
“We installed billboards to welcome the Chairman of Pergatsi while simultaneously introducing gateball to the public. We have also placed videotrons at several locations so that people can see how gateball is played,” he said.
He expressed optimism that these promotional efforts would spark greater public curiosity and encourage more young people to take an interest in gateball, helping build a stronger foundation for the sport’s future development in North Sumatra.
Final Preparations for the Inauguration
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Organizing Committee Ir. Harry Marbun confirmed that preparations for the inauguration had entered their final stage.
“As of one day before the inauguration, preparations are about 95 percent complete. We expect everything to be fully completed by tonight,” Harry told Lintas in Medan on Thursday (June 25, 2026).
Harry explained that the inauguration, which was initially planned to be held at a hotel, was ultimately relocated to the Gateball Field on Jalan Yos Sudarso, Medan. The decision was made following recommendations from various stakeholders who believed the public should be able to experience gateball firsthand at the competition venue.
According to Harry, the event will begin with the official inauguration of the provincial executive board by the Chairman of the Indonesian Gateball Association (Pergatsi), followed by the championship match of the North Sumatra Governor’s Cup Open Gateball Tournament.
The following day, Pergatsi North Sumatra will convene a provincial working meeting attended by representatives from approximately 16 regency and municipal chapters to formulate the organization’s future development strategies and programs.
Harry added that the inauguration is expected to be attended by representatives of Pergatsi’s national executive board, the provincial government, the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), the National Sports Committee of Indonesia (KONI), the Indonesian Community Sports Committee (KORMI), various sports organizations, and members of the gateball community from across North Sumatra.
Through the inauguration of its new leadership, the Governor’s Cup tournament, the provincial working meeting, and capacity-building programs for coaches and referees, Pergatsi North Sumatra aims to establish a more structured and sustainable athlete development system capable of producing outstanding gateball athletes who can proudly represent North Sumatra at the national level.
(PAH/ROY)
