July 8, 2024
JAKARTA – When the world stopped moving in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mika Afandi stayed home to avoid the virus, spending most of his time after work binge-watching Netflix and gaining 30 kilograms of body weight in a short time.
But after the outbreak receded, the Jakarta-based private employee decided to join an amateur running community called MetaRun to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
“Before joining MetaRun, I didn’t run at all,” Mika, now 36, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. “But now I have lost around 27 kg […] and even have a target to do a marathon this year.”
Despite limited public sporting venues in Jakarta, new grassroots sports are emerging across the city in an attempt to reconnect people in communities after the pandemic and spread awareness about healthy lifestyles amid reports of most adults’ lack of sufficient physical activity.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report published last week found that nearly one third of adults worldwide were not doing enough physical activity in 2022, a 5 percent increase from 2010. Among the factors were people walking less, working more on computers and spending their free time on gadgets.
The United Nations health body called the situation a wake-up call for all countries to boost community sports, as a lack of physical activity could lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and mental health problems.
Read also: Indonesian tennis scene surges in popularity amid pandemic
In Jakarta, although the type of sports played vary, many of these local clubs claimed to be beginner-friendly. They also have activities only on weekends and weekdays outside working hours to accommodate their members, whose majority are working 9-to-5.
Among the most popular sports is running, with clubs like MetaRun, the one joined by Mika, aiming to invite more people to run after the COVID-19 pandemic. The community was founded in 2022 by two running enthusiasts.
As its name might suggest, the club does not focus on running alone. “We also foster a sense of community among members,” said cofounder Joel Ambara.
Rackets up
Aside from running, tennis is also earning popularity among Jakartans lately. Kangen Tenis, a club established last year, seeks to debunk the myth that tennis is an expensive sport, cofounder Lufindria Razni said.
The club offers training sessions every day and organizes sparring and competing events with other non-professional clubs as part of its attempt to encourage members, who are mostly desk workers, to exercise more.
Unlike the other two single-sport clubs, Mabar Tepok offers a wide range of sports for the public, ranging from badminton and squash to padel, a racket sport similar to tennis played in a smaller, walled court using solid rackets.
“This sporting community was built following the many people who could not leave their homes and then got sick during the pandemic,” said sports enthusiast Lutfi Iramsyah, who founded Mabar Tepok in 2022. “Since then, I have become more aware that healthy living is important.”
Read also: Jakarta air pollution may cast a shadow over sports tourism
Both Kangen Tenis and Mabar Tepok charge their members up to Rp 180,000 (US$11) per visit, with the latter also offering training sessions for beginners with professionals and former athletes.
On the other hand, MetaRun does not charge its members and instead proactively seeks collaborations with brands, such as of sporting gear and beverages, to finance its operations.
Collaboration with brands often “motivates people to come [because] they can have a chance to get small prizes while doing exercise,” MetaRun cofounder Zaiful Bahri said.
Limited space
But these grassroots sports clubs often face steep challenges in organizing activities across the city.
According to both Lutfi and Lufindria, booking courts for racket sports in Jakarta has become increasingly difficult following the emergence of many similar communities.
MetaRun, which uses Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in South Jakarta as its home base, has seen bigger crowds lately as compared to the pre-COVID days, as more people look for a place to exercise for free, said Saiful.
But the clubs’ founders look to creative ways to deal with the issues. Kangen Tenis previously only rented courts around Central Jakarta. Now, Lufindria said, she often explores new courts in South and West Jakarta.
Meanwhile, in response to an increasingly crowded GBK, Joel said MetaRun had opted to practice in other places, such as on the sidewalk on Jl. Sudirman.
Outside the court or track, these grassroots clubs also try to serve as communities for their members through non-sporting activities.
MetaRun, for example, also organizes out-of-town trips for its members and engages with other communities, such as yoga and pilates, to give some varieties aside from running.
“We also want to promote the idea that sports don’t have to be monotonous with serious training all the time but can also be fun through games and other playful events,” Lufindria of Kangen Tenis said, adding that fun activities could be an alternative for people to recharge their energy.
Some members, like Mika, find that joining a community motivates them to do more exercise, rather than working out alone.
“Because when you are part of a large group,” he said, “other people can motivate you to have a healthier lifestyle and vice versa.”