Sports in Indonesia

Sports in Indonesia generally refer to football, badminton and table tennis. These two are the popular games here. But there are many traditional sports in Indonesia. They are bull races, bull fights, rowing, and unique ram fights, all of which are held as part of special festivities. Kerapan Sapi or Bull Race is an annual event here. Here the bulls are decorated with flowers, ribbons and gilded halters and paraded through the towns.

The Renggong Horse Contest is an annual event held every year on the month of September at Sumedang. In this festival the horses and jockeys exhibit their dancing skills in a heated competition. Silat is a form of martial art, can be performed as a dance or an exercise and is comparable to Karate or Kung Fu. Silat is quiet popular here. But soccer, badminton and table tennis are mostly played and practiced in Indonesia.

Football is the most popular sport in Indonesia and played and practiced at various levels, from children to middle-aged men. Some of the major teams include Persija Jakarta, Persib Bandung, Persebaya Surabaya, PSM Makassar, and Arema Malang. The national body is the Football Association of Indonesia. Indonesia won the gold medal for football in the 1962 Asian Games. Indonesia will together host the 2007 AFC Asian Cup with Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Badminton is Indonesia's most successful sport. Indonesia has been winning the gold medal in badminton since the very inception of badminton to the Olympics in 1992. Golf is gaining popularity nowadays with a number of excellent golf courses coming up across the archipelago. Many important hotels have their own tennis and squash courts, swimming pools, health clubs and those at seaside resorts provide equipment for sailing, surfing, scuba diving and windsurfing. There are also a growing number of dive shops which provide necessary equipment and professional services.

The importance of Sports in Indonesia is largely highlighted through the major events held here and the enthusiastic participation of the people here. Soccer buffs can also enjoy the domestic games that are frequently played here.

undo Things to Do in Indonesia