ACEH TAMIANG, INDONESIA — Behind the black and white pieces on a chessboard lies a greater strategy: developing sporting excellence, sharpening the minds of younger generations, and bringing pride to the region. This spirit marked a meeting between the leadership of the Aceh Tamiang branch of the Indonesian Chess Association (PERCASI), serving the 2026–2030 term, and Nora Idah Nita, S.E., a member of the Aceh House of Representatives (DPRA) and Chairwoman of the Democratic Party in Aceh Tamiang, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time. The meeting took place in the garden area of Aceh Tamiang Regional General Hospital (RSUD).
The meeting was attended by T. Muhammad Tasa, Chairperson of PERCASI Aceh Tamiang, accompanied by M. Reza Pahlawan, Daily Chairperson; Rakhmad Syahputra, S.H., Vice Chairperson; and Rahmad Rizeki, S.Pd., Gr., Secretary. Beyond strengthening personal and institutional relationships, the gathering served as a strategic opportunity for the association’s leadership to convey its aspirations and establish closer communication with a regional legislator representing the people of Aceh Tamiang.
In a warm and constructive atmosphere, PERCASI representatives expressed their hope that chess development in Aceh Tamiang would receive greater attention and more substantial support. According to the association, the region has considerable potential, with enthusiastic chess players ranging from young children and school students to adults. This public enthusiasm represents a valuable foundation that can be developed through structured training, regular competitions, improved coaching quality, and adequate sporting facilities.
However, this considerable potential has yet to translate fully into the competitive achievements the association hopes to attain. Limited resources, facilities, and development opportunities remain significant challenges. PERCASI Aceh Tamiang is determined to ensure that talented young players are not held back by a lack of opportunities, but instead receive the support they need to improve their skills, participate in competitions, and demonstrate their abilities at higher levels.
“We hope that PERCASI Aceh Tamiang will achieve success in every chess competition it enters. We want chess to become one of the sports increasingly embraced by the people of Aceh Tamiang, while enabling our athletes to achieve recognition and win titles, at least at the provincial level across Aceh,” said M. Reza Pahlawan, Daily Chairperson of PERCASI Aceh Tamiang. He emphasized that achieving these ambitions would require hard work, organizational unity, sustained athlete development, and meaningful support from various stakeholders.
For PERCASI Aceh Tamiang, the meeting with Nora Idah Nita also represented an important step toward strengthening cooperation between the sporting community and its elected representatives. The association hopes that the aspirations conveyed during the meeting will receive attention and encourage support for local sports development, particularly chess, in accordance with applicable authorities, programs, and regulations. Building sporting excellence, the association believes, cannot be accomplished by one organization alone. It requires collaboration among government institutions, policymakers, educational institutions, communities, and all parties committed to the future of local athletes.
The meeting is expected to become one of the initial steps toward revitalizing chess in Aceh Tamiang. With a committed leadership team serving the 2026–2030 term, PERCASI aims to strengthen grassroots training, expand access to competitions, and prepare athletes capable of competing at increasingly higher levels. True sporting achievement is not built on ambition and strategy over a chessboard alone. It demands consistent coaching, equal opportunities, and tangible support. The challenge ahead is to transform Aceh Tamiang’s strong public interest in chess into a sustainable force for sporting excellence—one capable of bringing honor to the region at the provincial, national, and even international levels.
(SIPS)
