International tournaments key to developing quality billiards players, says Indonesian minister

Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir views the Predator-PBC Indonesia International Open 2026 as a vital platform for nurturing high-caliber billiards talent within Indonesia. He emphasized that consistent competition is fundamental for cultivating athletic achievement.

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With many tournaments like this, new quality athletes will emerge. We have national training for multi-events in collaboration with KOI and KONI, but it's not enough without competition.

"With many tournaments like this, new quality athletes will emerge. We have national training for multi-events in collaboration with KOI and KONI, but it's not enough without competition," Thohir stated during a press conference in Jakarta. The tournament, scheduled from June 29 to July 4 in Jakarta, will host 128 international players and offers a total prize pool of $100,000 USD.

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I hope that with the existing competition, athletes will have an extraordinary opportunity to improve billiards achievements in Indonesia and hopefully win gold medals at the Asian Games in Japan.

Thohir expressed his hope that the international event would serve as an invaluable opportunity for Indonesian athletes to gauge their abilities and enhance their performance against global competitors. He aims for Indonesian players to potentially secure gold medals at the Asian Games in Japan. The minister also highlighted that national sports development cannot solely rely on the government, advocating for a collaborative approach involving the private sector and the community.

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Billiards in our country is developing quite well everywhere, and one of the triggers can be competition. We started with regional competitions, then national, and finally dared to hold international competitions.

He acknowledged and appreciated the private sector's ongoing investment in sports development, including the organization of international events like the Predator-PBC Indonesia International Open. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is also actively pursuing deregulation to streamline the growth of the national sports ecosystem. Hary Tanoesoedibjo, Chairman of PB POBSI, echoed Thohir's sentiments, noting the significant progress in Indonesian billiards and the crucial role of competitions at all levels, from regional to international, in accelerating the sport's advancement. National player Jeffry Zen also welcomed the tournament, emphasizing its importance for the younger generation's experience and development.

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Competitions like this are what Indonesian billiards players really want. This is very good for the younger generation because they can gain valuable experience and continue to develop.