Pupuk Indonesia once again supports the organization of the 2025 Youth & Junior National Weightlifting Championship (Kejurnas) as part of the company's efforts to foster the next generation of national weightlifting athletes. The championship, which features 150 lifters from across Indonesia, is held in Bandung from July 31 to August 5, 2025.

Tina T. Kemala Intan, Director of Human Capital at PT Pupuk Indonesia (Persero), stated during the opening ceremony on Friday (1/8/2025) that Pupuk Indonesia is one of the companies strongly committed to advancing national weightlifting. After organizing the Senior National Weightlifting Championship in Yogyakarta recently, Pupuk Indonesia is now once again providing a platform for the younger generation of lifters.

“Through this championship, Pupuk Indonesia, along with our holding members – Petrokimia Gresik, Pupuk Kalimantan Timur, and Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang – remains consistent in supporting the long-term process of national athlete regeneration. We believe that sporting achievements cannot be built instantly. It requires a healthy ecosystem, early-stage development, and broad opportunities for young athletes to grow and learn,” Tina explained.

She also expressed her appreciation to the Indonesian Weightlifting Association (PB PABSI) for its ongoing dedication in nurturing young talented athletes, particularly through the organization of the Youth & Junior Championship. Tina added that the Saparua Sports Hall (GOR), which has hosted this event several times, once again serves as a witness to the emergence of Indonesia's future weightlifting stars.

A total of 150 athletes and 65 officials from 25 provincial chapters (Pengprov) of PABSI are participating in this championship, competing in 10 men's and 10 women's categories. For the youth girls’ categories: 44kg, 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, and +58kg; and for the boys: 56kg, 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, and +71kg. In the junior girls’ categories: 48kg, 53kg, 58kg, 63kg, and +63kg; while the boys compete in 60kg, 65kg, 71kg, 79kg, and +79kg.

Tina noted that promising young talents have already begun to emerge from these classes. Two such lifters, Alya and Kevin, recently achieved impressive results. Alya brought home three gold medals from the Asian Youth & Junior Championships in Kazakhstan, while Kevin won one silver medal at the same event in early July 2025.

“Their achievements are concrete proof that investment in youth athlete development is a strategic investment for the future of national sports. I hope all athletes competing here will demonstrate their dedication and unwavering spirit to further elevate Indonesia’s weightlifting achievements,” she emphasized.

This championship also serves as a selection and monitoring event for the upcoming Asian Youth Games (AYG) in Manama, Bahrain, from October 20–30, followed by the National Youth Training Camp (Pelatnas) in preparation for the event.

In addition, this championship helps identify candidates for the National Training Center for Promising Young Athletes (SLOMPN) and the Cibubur Youth Athlete Training Centre (CYATC), as successors to today’s top lifters.

General Chairman of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI), Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Marciano Norman, highlighted PB PABSI’s success in athlete development and international achievements, which are supported by Pupuk Indonesia. He expressed hope that this support will continue so that Indonesian lifters can bring home more than one gold medal at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“I would like to extend my gratitude. We must continue to improve our achievements. Hopefully, this championship will break records at both national and international levels,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, PB PABSI Secretary General Djoko Pramono stated that with the increasing achievements of lifters on the international stage, weightlifting has become a favorite sport, prompting the rise of many young lifters.

“The year 2025 marks the fourth consecutive year of organizing the Youth & Junior Championships in collaboration with Pupuk Indonesia. We extend our thanks for the continuous support across all levels – Youth, Junior, and Senior – and we hope this event will continue to produce top athletes for international competitions in the future,” said Djoko.