Bamsoet Praises Inter-School Boxing Event as a Solution to Curb Violence
The Arena Selatan was held with a professional and educational concept. Dozens of high school students competed under the supervision of coaches and official match officials. The participants were trained to understand the rules, control their emotions, respect opponents, and be responsible for their actions in the ring.
“Sports teaches that an opponent in the arena is not an enemy in life. After the match is over, they shake hands again, respect each other, and build relationships as friends. These values are what young people need today,” said Bamsoet in a statement on Saturday (16/5/2026).
This was conveyed by Bamsoet when attending the Arena Selatan 2026 inter-school boxing event at GOR Bulungan Jakarta, Saturday (16/5). The Arena Selatan 2026 Inter-School Boxing Event was officially opened by Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports) Taufik Hidayat representing the Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir.
Bamsoet explained that the phenomenon of student violence in 2025 is increasingly worrying. The National Criminal Information Center (Pusiknas) of the Indonesian Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit recorded that by the end of 2025, as many as 21,945 children and adolescents under the age of 20 were involved in legal issues.
The majority of cases are related to violence, bullying, brawls, and street crime. In the report, boys dominated with more than 19 thousand cases.
Meanwhile, data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) recorded that there were 2,031 cases of child rights violations throughout 2025 with more than 2,063 children becoming victims. KPAI highlighted the increasing violence in educational environments, the influence of social media, bullying, and brawls which are increasingly brutal and organized through digital platforms.
“Social media is now often used for provocation, mutual insults, to even organizing brawls. Therefore, the approach must also be modern. Young people must be brought together in activities that build positive solidarity, creativity, and pride in achievement,” said the former Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
Bamsoet added that a sports-based approach like Arena Selatan is far more effective in building character than just raids or temporary punishments. In sports, teenagers learn to control their emotions, respect rules, accept defeat, and rise from failure. These values are an important foundation for reducing the culture of violence that has grown among students. Many cases of brawls occur due to narrow solidarity between school groups which then develops into inherited grudges.
“We want to create a generation of young people who are mentally strong, physically healthy, and socially mature. Arena Selatan proves that sports can be a tool for unity, strengthening brotherhood, while also reducing student brawls which have long disturbed the community,” he concluded. (akd/ega)