.jpeg)
Jakarta, – The National Sports Conference and National Coordination Meeting of the Indonesian Esports Executive Board (PB ESI) were successfully held at the Grand Ballroom Intercontinental, Jakarta. The event was attended by various stakeholders, including the PB ESI management, government officials, and representatives of the national esports community.
One of the important moments in this activity was the re-election of the Head of the State Intelligence Agency (KABIN), General Pol. (Ret.) Budi Gunawan (BG), as the General Chairperson of PB ESI for the 2024-2029 period. Under BG’s leadership, PB ESI has shown significant progress in building esports as a sport that is increasingly in demand, both nationally and internationally.
In his speech, Budi Gunawan expressed his gratitude for the support he received from various parties. “I would like to express my highest gratitude and appreciation to all levels of management who have worked hard to develop national esports, as well as all parties who have supported PB ESI,” he said. Furthermore, he emphasized the success of PB ESI in various major events such as the 2021 Papua National Sports Week (PON) and the 2024 Aceh-North Sumatra PON. “The success in PON Papua and PON Aceh is proof of our commitment to opening up space and opportunities as much as possible for games created by the nation’s children so that they not only become champions domestically, but can also compete in the international market representing Indonesia,” he added.
The success of Budi Gunawan’s leadership in building esports has also received appreciation from various parties. Expert Staff for Sports Culture at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ir. Hamka Hendra Noer, M.Si, said that esports has recorded important history for Indonesia, starting from the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta to the 2024 Aceh-North Sumatra PON. “In the international arena, at the 2022 international esports world championship in Bali, Indonesia also emerged as the champion. This is all proof that the development of esports achievements through the management of PB Esport Indonesia under the leadership of General Budi Gunawan has been successful. The 2020-2024 management period has also gone well and deserves appreciation,” he said.
Not only that, Deputy Chairman III of KONI, Major General TNI (Ret.) Andri Sutarno, also gave high appreciation for the progress achieved by PB ESI. He highlighted the rise of the Indonesian gaming industry which was marked by the presence of local games such as “Battle of Guardians” at the 21st PON Aceh-North Sumatra 2024. “This is an achievement of PB ESI under the leadership of General Budi Gunawan as the first General Chairman in the history of PB ESI. I express my highest appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Budi Gunawan and his staff, especially the Indonesian Esports Executive Board for the first term of office who have greatly advanced the history of esports in the country,” he said.
With the re-election of Budi Gunawan as the General Chairperson of PB ESI, it is hoped that his leadership will continue to bring Indonesian esports to a higher level, both nationally and internationally.
