All Indonesia Badminton Association To Elect New Chief

SURABAYA, E Java, Oct 31 (Antara) - The All Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) will choose new leadership in a national congress opened here on Sunday evening The fourth deputy for performance improvement affairs of the ministry of sports and youth affairs, Gatot Dewa Broto, who officially opened the congress expressed hope that the congress would run smoothly from the opening until the closing tomorrow. He said the minister could not open the congress because he had to attend the final round of the National "Santri" (Islamic boarding school students) Football League in Yogyakarta. He said the minister hoped that the congress would run smoothly especially during the election of general chairman for 2016-2020. Dewa Broto reminded that future challenges would be bigger and public expectation would be higher. In view ofthat he hoped the new board later would be able to prepare well for especially SEA Games 2017 in Malaysia, Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia and Olympic Games 2020 in Japan. He said he would not side with any candidate and would refer fully to the voters. "The minister would be neutral. Whoever would be elected be it Pak (Mr) Gita Wiryawan or Pak Wiranto he would support. What is important is PBSI and the badminton world in Indonesia remain stable," he said. The congress offers 35 votes to compete for by candidates consisting of 34 from the provincial chapters and one from the central executive board. Current general chairman Gita Wirjawan thanked all provincial boards for their contribution to his leadership so far especially during the country's effort to maintain the country's gold winning tradition which was continued by Owi/Buter during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by winning a gold medal through badminton mixed doubles event.***4*** Reported by Fiqih Arfani