Cenderawasih Swimming Club (CSC) Jayapura achieved remarkable success at the annual Governor's Cup swimming championship, held from February 21-23, 2025, at the Aquatic Stadium Lukas Enembe, Jayapura. This competitive event witnessed participation from 283 competitors across 25 swimming clubs from the region, making it a significant occasion for aspiring athletes.
The Cenderawasih Swimming Club emerged as the overall champion, collecting 24 gold medals, along with 13 silver and 7 bronze, totaling 44 medals. Coach Ibrahim expressed immense pride, stating, "Total medals we achieved in this championship are 44. This is a great achievement and pride for us, the coaches of Cenderawasih Swimming Club, and the extraordinary efforts of our children who succeeded to become the overall champion at the Governor's Cup." He emphasized the importance of this win as a stepping stone to raise the quality of swimming athletes from Papua on both national and international stages.
Notably, one of the club's standout athletes, 8-year-old Dhirgham Haidar Irhab Sugarda, shined brightly during the championship. He took home gold medals across all six categories he competed in, which included 100 meters breaststroke, 100 meters freestyle, 50 meters breaststroke, 50 meters backstroke, and 50 meters butterfly. His father, Sugarda A.B. Tenggoro, shared his pride, saying, "Dhirgham won gold medals in all of those categories, along with being named the best athlete of this championship." Dhirgham is currently enrolled at Papua National School (PNS), where he studies in the third grade. His remarkable achievements at such a young age provide encouragement for other budding swimmers.
Coach Ibrahim highlighted the role rigorous daily training played in achieving these commendable results. He remarked, "We are grateful to have won 24 gold medals, with a margin of 10 gold medals from the second overall champion. This is an extraordinary achievement for our young athletes." This dedication to training and the competition allows the Cenderawasih Swimming Club to remain competitive against other clubs as they aim for higher accolades.
The event served not only as a platform for local talent but also as a means to promote swimming as part of the youth's development. Sonya Monim, Plt Head of the Youth and Sports Service of Papua, noted, "This is the first edition of the Governor's Cup competition, which aims to be held annually and will involve children from elementary and middle schools, with hopes of including participants from all regions of Papua." This initiative reflects the government's commitment to enhancing sports and providing necessary facilities for future athletes.
Parents like Sugarda A.B. Tenggoro expressed gratitude to the Papua provincial government for providing adequate sports facilities, which greatly benefit young athletes. He hopes Dhirgham and his peers continue their training and aim for national and international competitions. "We hope Dhirgham and other children do not only settle for today’s achievement but continue to train diligently for greater successes on the national and international stage," he said.
Moving forward, the Cenderawasih Swimming Club plans to build on this success. Coach Ibrahim and his team are determined to improve their athletes' performance and skills, not only at local competitions like the Governor's Cup but also on larger, national platforms. This emphasis on continuous improvement is expected to raise the bar for swimming competitions across Papua, encouraging more youth participation.
To summarize, this year’s Governor's Cup not only crowned Cenderawasih Swimming Club as the champion but also marked the beginning of what promises to be an exciting annual tradition. The event reflects the growing interest and support for swimming among Papua's youth and sets the stage for future athletes to excel.