JAKARTA, MERCINEWS.COM – Datuk Abdul Halim Kader, President of the Asian Sepaktakraw Federation (ASTAF) and Secretary General of the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF), has praised the quality of Indonesia’s emerging sepaktakraw referees following the successful completion of the ASTAF Referee Training Course, saying they are well prepared to officiate at regional and international competitions.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on Sunday at Jakarta State University (Universitas Negeri Jakarta/UNJ), Abdul Halim said the four-day program had exceeded expectations and reflected Indonesia’s growing commitment to developing internationally qualified match officials.
The training, held from July 16 to 19, brought together 43 participants representing 27 provinces across Indonesia. All participants completed the ASTAF curriculum and were awarded referee certification upon successfully passing the course.
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“The referees demonstrated excellent technical knowledge, discipline and professionalism throughout the training. Their overall performance exceeded our expectations,” Datuk Abdul Halim said.
He noted that most participants were between 20 and 50 years old, an age group he described as ideal for building a sustainable pool of referees capable of serving in international tournaments.
“ASTAF is ready to entrust Indonesian referees with officiating assignments at upcoming championships, including an international tournament scheduled for late November,” he said.
According to Abdul Halim, strengthening the quality of referees is just as important as producing world-class athletes because competent officials play a crucial role in maintaining the credibility and integrity of the sport.
“Indonesia has shown a strong commitment to referee development. We hope the country will continue producing officials who meet ASTAF and ISTAF standards and contribute to the global growth of sepaktakraw,” he added.
Sepaktakraw, a sport originating in Southeast Asia, has steadily expanded beyond the region over the past decade. As international tournaments continue to grow, demand for certified referees has increased alongside efforts to standardize officiating across member countries.
Chairman of the Indonesian Sepaktakraw Association (PB PSTI), Surianto, welcomed the successful completion of the training program, describing it as an important investment in the future of Indonesian sepaktakraw.
“All 43 participants successfully completed the curriculum and have earned ASTAF certification. This achievement marks another step forward in strengthening Indonesia’s national referee system,” Surianto said.
He added that PB PSTI intends to organize similar training programs in more provinces to expand the country’s pool of internationally certified referees and ensure every region has qualified officials capable of officiating national and international competitions.
Indonesia has long been one of Asia’s strongest sepaktakraw nations, consistently competing for medals at the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Games. Sports officials believe strengthening the country’s officiating standards will complement its athletic achievements and reinforce Indonesia’s contribution to the sport’s continued development.
With 43 newly certified referees joining the national officiating system, Indonesia is expected to play an increasingly significant role not only through its athletes but also through highly qualified match officials on the international stage.(red)
