RRI.CO.ID, Bali - The Indonesian Aquatics Federation (Akuatik Indonesia) is using the 12th Asian Open Water Swimming (OWS) Championships in Jimbaran, Bali, as a steppingstone to nurture and regenerate talent for the future.

OWS national team manager Donny Budiarto Utomo emphasized that the focus is on juniors and new athletes. “We are looking for future replacements because Indonesia has strong potential in open water swimming,” he said on the final day of the competition at InterContinental Jimbaran Bay, Monday, June 15, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Facing elite swimmers from China, Vietnam, South Korea, and other Asian nations, Indonesian athletes gained valuable experience in handling sea currents, wind, and natural conditions--knowledge that will serve them well in upcoming age-group competitions.

The next step will be the Southeast Asia OWS Championship in Boracay, the Philippines, this August, where Indonesia plans to field selected young swimmers. “That championship is age-group based and designed for youth development, ensuring strong regeneration,” Donny added.

Competition director Felix C. Sutanto, who also serves as Deputy Head of High-Performance Swimming and OWS, highlighted the importance of parallel events like A Stream OWS, which attracted 284 participants, some as young as 7-10 years old.

He urged provincial federations to host similar beginner-level open water competitions to expand the talent pool. “Each province should organize beginner OWS events like Bali. We need to start building programs for grassroots championships,” he said.

Despite strong efforts, Indonesian swimmers did not secure medals in the 5 km, 10 km, or 4x1,500 m relay categories. In the men’s 10 km, Alexander Adrian finished 15th with a time of 2:08:22.5, while Andy Fauzan placed 22nd at 2:13:49.3.

China’s Lan Tianchen and Zhang Jinhou took gold and silver, with Vietnam’s Huy Hoang Nguyen earning bronze. In the women’s 10 km, China continued its dominance through Wu Shutong and Chen Yijing, while Hong Kong’s Pac Tung Nikita Lam claimed bronze.

Although medals eluded Indonesia, the event provided crucial lessons and reinforced the federation’s commitment to building a sustainable pipeline of athletes. The Bali championship is seen as part of a long-term strategy to prepare Indonesia for stronger performances at regional and global levels.

This development ties into broader themes such as Indonesia’s open water swimming potential, the importance of youth athlete regeneration, and the role of Asian OWS Championships in shaping future talent. ***