PORTALJABAR, GARUT REGENCY - The Regent of Garut, Abdusy Syakur Amin, officially released the contingent from Garut Regency who will compete in the 2026 West Java Regional Student Sports Week (Popwilda). This release procession was carried out simultaneously with the Joint Roll Call at the Regional Secretariat (Setda) Field, Jalan Pembangunan, Tarogong Kidul District, Garut Regency, Monday (15/6/2026).

In his remarks, the Regent of Garut expressed his congratulations to the selected athletes who received the honor of bringing good name to the region at the provincial level.

"They are residents or athletes who are selected students in Garut Regency who will represent Garut in Popwilda where the branches that will be competed are volleyball, soccer, basketball and pencak silat," he said.

The Garut Regent also highlighted the high level of enthusiasm for sports among the Garut community, as evidenced by the proliferation of comprehensive events, from the Inter-Village Volleyball League to the West Java Special U-12 League. He believes this enthusiasm is not merely about pursuing achievements but also serves as a crucial tool for maintaining the momentum of regional economic growth.

"There will be transactions, business-related gatherings, and other things. Therefore, I am one of those who prioritizes a sports-based approach to advancing the economy in our beloved Garut Regency," said Syakur.

Finally, he emphasized that sports are a crucial tool in shaping the character and discipline of the younger generation.

"Because we know that with sports, we realize that nothing can be achieved instantly. Everything must be prepared, practiced, and made a habit. Therefore, I hope that the children who go will be able to achieve maximum performance," he added.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Garut Regency Youth and Sports Agency (Dispora), Asep Mulyana, explained that the total delegation comprising 89 athletes, coaches, and officials is scheduled to compete in Bandung City for one week, starting June 21, 2026.

Garut Regency will compete in four main sports branches, namely Football, Pencak Silat, Volleyball and Basketball.

Asep revealed that Pencak Silat remains Garut's mainstay for medals. However, he is also optimistic about the development of the Football sport, which has shown promising performance during the preparation period.

"We acknowledge that the most superior is pencak silat, God willing. Hopefully, yesterday, we also had football, because yesterday we drew in a trial with Persib U-17. Hopefully, this will motivate the children to further improve their skills and abilities," Asep continued.

Regarding physical and tactical readiness, the Garut Youth and Sports Agency (Dispora) has facilitated an intensive Training Center (TC) for nearly the past two weeks for all sports, along with regular dialogue with coaches to monitor athlete development. The Agency also ensures the provision of basic facilities for the contingent while in Bandung. (Diskominfo Garut/rka)