KONI EXPLORES AVENUES TO ELEVATE AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN CLASSICAL CHINESE CHESS, XIANGQI, ACROSS INDONESIA, SAYS KONI CHAIRPERSON MARCIANO NORMAN.
KONI chairperson Marciano Norman announced plans to intensify the promotion of classical Chinese chess, known as Xiangqi, emphasising its historical significance and strategic value. Norman stressed the need for broader promotion of Xiangqi in all provinces, particularly among other sports branches participating in the upcoming KONI National Working Meeting.
During a meeting with Awaludin Ahai, chairperson of the Indonesian Xiangqi Association (PB PEXI), Norman discussed opportunities for collaboration and PB PEXI’s aspiration to become a KONI member. PB PEXI, currently comprising 16 provincial branches, aims to establish five additional management branches to further its reach.
Ahai highlighted PB PEXI’s active involvement in organising national and international Xiangqi championships, with Indonesian athletes demonstrating prowess in various competitions. He expressed PB PEXI’s eagerness to seek guidance from KONI to facilitate its integration as a central member, fostering Xiangqi’s growth nationwide.
Indonesia boasts promising Xiangqi talent, exemplified by Iwan Setiawan’s third-place finish in the doubles event at the 2019 World Xiangqi Invitation Championship in China, representing Bangka Belitung. The inclusion of Xiangqi in recent regional and international sporting events like the 2023 Cambodian SEA Games and the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games underscores its potential for further development.
Beyond its strategic dimensions, Xiangqi cultivates philosophical insight, mental agility, and emotional resilience, as articulated by Rendi, a PEXI athlete who attained a fifth-place ranking at the world championship. KONI aims to harness these attributes to popularise Xiangqi and enhance its prominence in Indonesia’s sporting landscape.
Source: Antara News
