Bangka Regency Wins Overall Championship at Popda XIII Babel 2026

Bangka Regency has secured the overall championship title at the XIII Bangka Belitung Provincial Youth Sports Week (Popda) 2026. The multi-sport event, which ran from July 5 to 10 in Pangkalpinang, saw young athletes compete across four disciplines: men's football, men's sepak takraw, and both boys' and girls' basketball and volleyball.

Wydia Kemala Sari, Head of the Bangka Belitung Provincial Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Sports Office, announced the final medal standings. Bangka Regency led with two gold medals, followed by Belitung Regency with one gold, one silver, and three bronze. Bangka Tengah secured third place with one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals.

Wydia commended the participants and organizers for a successful and smooth event. She highlighted Popda's importance not just for athletic achievement but also for fostering character development among the youth, instilling values such as discipline, sportsmanship, resilience, honesty, and teamwork. She encouraged those who did not win medals to view their experience as a stepping stone to future success.

Khailani, Head of Youth and Sports for the Bangka Regency Education, Youth, and Sports Office, expressed gratitude for the victory, achieved amidst budget constraints. He attributed the success to the athletes' fighting spirit, the dedication of coaches, parental support, and the commitment of all stakeholders. Khailani emphasized the ongoing commitment to athlete development from a young age and plans to evaluate strategies with coaches to improve future performance, aiming for more gold medals across various sports.