The Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation (FPTI) of Malang City continues to improve after failing to send its athletes to the East Java Provincial Sports Week (Porprov) V held in Banyuwangi Regency. Malang City is now continuing to intensify the development and coaching so that later it will have athletes who can be relied on when appearing in various championship events, Thursday (25/6).
Daily Chairperson of FPTI Malang City Firman Yanuar said that his party did not want to fail again to send rock climbing athletes to the upcoming Porprov VI because its athletes had moved to other regions. As an initial step, FPTI is now intensifying athlete coaching so that Malang City rock climbing can rise again.
"The plan is after Lebaran around August 2015, FPTI Malang City will participate in the East Java Province rock climbing championship in Surabaya. The athletes we will send are currently still in the selection stage," explained Firman, Thursday (25/6).
Learning from previous experiences, where there were Malang City athletes who moved to other areas when they were going to face Porprov, Firman admitted that he is now more selective in choosing athletes. One of them is that as much as possible the athletes who are recruited and trained are native residents of Malang City.
"Currently, we are increasingly active in coaching children aged seven years up to high school age. From these young athletes is our hope for the future," Firman emphasized.
For the championship in Surabaya later, Firman added, Malang City will send 2-3 athletes. The names of athletes who are relied on to appear in the City of Heroes are currently being monitored.
As a supporting facility, currently a rock climbing board has been completed in Taman Gayam. Firman admitted that with the addition of this facility, there are many benefits, one of which is that Malang City's rock climbing athletes can focus on training at any time without being disturbed by other activities.
"During this month of Ramadan, rock climbing training at Taman Gayam is done every day. For other days, it is adjusted to the athlete's study hours at their school," explained Firman. (cah/yon)
