KBRN, Jakarta: The Executive Board of the Indonesian Handball Association (PB ABTI) is continuing to expand its presence on the global stage. Participation in the International Handball Federation (IHF) congress was described as a key step in strengthening Indonesia’s position in world handball.

The congress, held in Egypt, was attended by representatives from 150 member countries. Delegates discussed the future direction of handball development and elected the IHF President for the 2026–2030 term.

The meeting confirmed the re-election of Hassan Moustafa as IHF President for a 10-year term ending in 2030. PB ABTI Chairman Zulfydar Zaidar Mochtar expressed his support and appreciation for the outcome.

“We would like to thank the Minister of Youth and Sports, the Chair of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (NOC Indonesia), the Chair of the National Sports Committee (KONI), the review team, and the West Kalimantan Provincial Administration for their support of handball achievements,” Zulfydar said in Jakarta on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, as quoted by Antara.

He added that the momentum from the congress would encourage PB ABTI to continue improving its achievements and international participation. The association is preparing to organize events and send athletes to international championships included in the 2026 IHF calendar.

Zulfydar highlighted Indonesia’s first-handball medal at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand as evidence of significant progress. “We want this achievement to be a stepping stone for better results in the next event,” he said.

PB ABTI has prepared a 2026 national calendar featuring two major championships: the National Student Championship in East Java and the National Senior Championship in North Sumatra. Training programs for referees, coaches, and technical delegates have also been scheduled.

In addition, PB ABTI plans to participate in several international tournaments, including the Asian Beach Games in China in April 2026, the ASEAN University Games in Malaysia in December, and the ASEAN School Games.

Zulfydar also noted the possibility of handball being included in the 2026 Beach PON, pending confirmation from KONI. ***