User:Brigitha Sesilya/Raja Sapta Oktohari

Raja Sapta Oktohari (born October 15th, 1975) is a young Indonesian entrepreneur and sport leader. He comes from a Minangkabau background on his father's side, while his mother originates from Kabupaten Takalar and has Makassar ancestry.

Oktohari is part of the OSO Group conglomerate, owned by his family, which operates in various sectors such as mining, plantations, fisheries, transportation, communication, and hospitality. He is also involved in overseeing the OSO Group conglomerate owned by his family. His prominence grew when he became a promoter of world-class boxing, earning him the title of the youngest world boxing promoter by the World Boxing Association.

He has been elected as the President of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia for 2019-2023 and is currently running for a second terms 2023-2027.

He was elected as the Chairman of HIPMI  (Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association) for the 2011-2014 period, succeeding Erwin Aksa during the 14th National Congress (Munas) of HIPMI held in Makassar, South Sulawesi on October 20th, 2011

Career in Sports

 Mahkota Promotion (M-Pro) 

Starting his journey as a young entrepreneur, Oktohari entered the sports industry as a boxing promoter. He founded Mahkota Promotion (M-Pro) in 2008, which has since grown into the leading boxing promotion company of today.

Through M-Pro, Indonesian professional boxers have won world champion titles. Among the boxers who have achieved international success under M-Pro's guidance are Chris John, Daud Jordan, and Ongen Saknosiwi.

In recognition of his significant contributions, Oktohari was awarded the title of Honorary Promoter of the Year 2018 by WBC Asia during the Annual Award Presentation held in Bangkok, Thailand on May 22, 2019. This accolade acknowledges his accomplishments in establishing and nurturing M-Pro.

Cycling: Starting a community, Achievements in Indonesian Cycling, and Garnering Acknowledgment across Asia and Beyond

From his early days, Oktohari harbored a passion for cycling. During his time in junior high school, he orchestrated cycling competitions that sparked his deep engagement with this sport.

He embarked on grassroots cycling organizational endeavors, championing bike-to-work initiatives that encouraged professionals to choose bicycles for their daily commute, advocating for cleaner air.

- ISSI/Indonesia Cycling Federation

In 2011, Oktohari was appointed to lead the Jakarta branch of the Indonesian Cycling Sport Association (ISSI). Four years later, the ISSI provincial administrators in Indonesia nominated Oktohari to contend for the Chairmanship position at the Extraordinary National Congress (Munaslub) of ISSI 2015-2019. His election to the helm of ISSI for the 2015-2019 term followed.

Under Oktohari's guidance, the development of cycling in Indonesia honed in on several critical domains: enhancing athlete and coach quality, training, securing internationally recognized UCI-standard tournaments, enhancing venues, and refining organizational structures. He also successfully advocated for Indonesian cycling athletes to be granted scholarships to train at the UCI World Training Center in Switzerland.

This strategy bore fruit, as Indonesian cycling saw its inaugural representation at the Olympics. Toni Syarifudin seized this golden opportunity at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, becoming the first Indonesian cyclist at the Olympics. Additionally, ISSI sent its first cyclist to compete in the World Cup for the Track event.

Oktohari breathed life back into the dormant Tour de Indonesia, which had been inactive for seven years. He also brought Asian and global-level tournaments to the country, including the Banyuwangi BMX International, Asian Track Championships, and ACC Urban Championship. He contributed to the triumph of cycling events at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.

Due to his exceptional contributions, Oktohari garnered strong backing from provincial administrators to seek a second term from 2019 to 2023. He was chosen unanimously as the sole candidate during the National Congress (Munas) held in Bandung, West Java.

However, Oktohari had to conclude his term earlier than expected due to his election as the President of the Indonesian National Olympic Committee (NOC) for the 2019-2023 period. Nonetheless, ISSI/ICF administrators requested flexibility, needing time to conduct a national congress during this transitional phase. Oktohari's position was succeeded by Police Chief Listyo Sigit, who was unanimously appointed Chairman of ISSI for the 2021-2025 term on April 3, 2021.

However, Oktohari remains deeply committed to advancing the state of cycling in Indonesia. In recognition of his efforts, UCI President David Lappartient has even dubbed him the "Father of Indonesian Cycling."

Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC)

However, Oktohari's passion for cycling persisted. In March 2021, Osama Al Shaafar was elected as the President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), appointing Oktohari as the Senior Vice President of ACC. Additionally, Oktohari was chosen to be a part of the Executive Committee of ACC in the same election.

Okto's unwavering commitment to nurturing cycling and sports in Indonesia at large has positioned him as a revered figure in both the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). In March 2022, Okto was honored with the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC)Special Order of Merit award in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. This recognition serves as an acknowledgment of his substantial contribution to the advancement of cycling.

Okto received the ACC Special Order of Merit trophy directly from David Lappartient, the President of the International Cycling Union (UCI), and Osama Ahmed Abdullah Al Shafar, the President of ACC, at the ACC Congress in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Sunday (27/03).

Tim Indonesia Chef de Mission for Rio 2016 Olympic

Being youthful, accomplished, and fully committed, Oktohari was appointed as the Chef de Mission of the Indonesian Contingent for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics by the Indonesian Olympic Committee, then under the leadership of Erick Thohir. Oktohari's selection came after outshining four other nominees for the CdM position during that period.

In his role as the Chef de Mission, Oktohari motivated Indonesian athletes to secure qualifications for the Rio Olympics by providing a bonus of IDR 100 million. This initiative symbolized Oktohari's acknowledgment of the athletes participating in the Olympics, which stands as the highest and most prestigious multi-event globally.

Guided by Oktohari's leadership, the Indonesian Contingent, composed of 28 athletes spanning seven sports, journeyed to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

During the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Oktohari led Indonesia to clinch one gold and two silver medals. The mixed doubles badminton team, Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir, claimed the gold medal, thereby reinstating the tradition of gold medals in badminton. The two silver medals were secured by weightlifters Eko Yuli Irawan (men's 62 kg category) and Sri Wahyuni (women's 48 kg category).

The commendable accomplishments of Indonesian athletes motivated Oktohari to advocate for enhanced bonuses for Olympic medalists from the Indonesian government. In a historic move, gold medalists received recognition from the government amounting to IDR 5 billion per individual. Meanwhile, silver medalists received IDR 2 billion, marking a five-fold increase from the bonuses awarded by the government at the 2012 London Olympics.

Chairman of Indonesia Asian Paralympic Games 2018 Organization Committee (INAPGOC)

Okto's remarkable track record led to him being given a more significant role as the Chief of the Indonesia Asian Paralympic Games 2018 Organizing Committee (INAPGOC) in 2017.

In a span of less than two years, Okto was entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the largest multi-event for esteemed disabled athletes across Asia. The event took place from October 6th to 13th, 2018, and was hosted at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex (GBK) in Jakarta.

Leveraging his experience and network, Okto effectively organized the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games. This achievement encompassed not only the event's seamless execution but also the accountability and accomplishments of Indonesian NPC athletes.

President of National Olympic Committee of Indonesia (NOC Indonesia)

Following his successful tenure at INAPGOC, Okto's reputation continued to grow. Subsequently, he was nominated by the national federation to contend for the role of President of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia for the term 2019-2023.

On October 5th, 2019, Okto formally submitted his candidacy for the position of President of the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia, partnering Warih Sardono as his vice president.

During the National Olympic Committee of Indonesia Congress in Jakarta on October 10th, 2019, Okto was elected unanimously. He succeeded Erick Thohir, who had previously held the position from 2015 to 2019.

Throughout his leadership, Okto actively propagated the values and spirit of the Olympics, namely excellence, friendship, and respect. He staunchly championed athletes' and the nation's interests, evidenced when the Indonesian Hockey Team was barred from participating in the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines due to governance disputes or when Indonesian badminton players encountered discriminatory treatment at the All England 2021 tournament.

These actions aligned with the Olympic Charter, specifically Article 27, section 2.5, which underscores NOCs' responsibility to combat discrimination and violence in sports.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Okto also contributed suggestions to the government for enhancing athletes' bonuses. The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, responded positively, leading to an increase of IDR 500 million in bonuses for each medalist.

Presently, Okto is vigorously pursuing sports diplomacy through the "Indonesia Olympic Champions Program," facilitating athlete training camp exchanges abroad. The initiative aims to elevate Indonesia's performance in top-tier multi-events like the Olympics and World Championships.

Leveraging his diplomatic skills and connections, Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali, entrusted Okto with leading the Acceleration Task Force for Resolving Sanctions imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in mid-October. The team adeptly engaged in diplomacy, culminating in the lifting of WADA's sanctions against the Indonesian Anti-Doping Agency (LADI) -- now transformed as a Indonesia Anti-Doping Organization (IADO) -- on February 2nd, 2022, in Montreal.

Oktohari's achievements in the sports world have led various Indonesia sports federations to endorse him once again to run in his position as President of National Olympic Committee of Indonesian for the second terms, 2023-2027.

Oktohari ran alongside his vice President, Ismail Ning, with the mission to bring Indonesia sports standing on the world's stage.

On July 1st 2023, Oktohari and Ismail Ning was elected as the President and Vice President of the NOC Indonesia at the Session held at the Fairmont Hotel.