MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament held the Dam Batu Sumpah Pemuda Cup 2 tournament in the press room on the LG floor of the parliament building on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. As well as marking the 98th anniversary of Indonesia's Youth Pledge, known as Sumpah Pemuda, the event aimed to promote the traditional board game Dam Batu and, in the long term, establish it as a nationally contested sporting discipline.
The tournament brought together journalists who regularly cover the work of Medan City Regional Parliament and members of the parliamentary administration. The matches unfolded in a relaxed atmosphere filled with laughter. However, the game also demanded strategic thinking, precision and the ability to anticipate opponents' next moves.
Said Ilham Assegaf, chairman of the Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament, stressed that the tournament was about more than winning matches or taking home a trophy. He said he wanted to use Dam Batu as a way to strengthen friendships and foster solidarity among people working in and around the parliament.
"This competition is not about winning or losing, but about putting solidarity first," Said said. He was joined by the group's secretary, Irwan Manalu, and treasurer, Amsari.
According to Said, growing public interest in dominoes, also known as Dam Batu, offers new opportunities to develop the game further. He hopes competitions across different sections of society will help raise its profile within Indonesia's national sporting landscape.
Dam Batu Has Potential as a Competitive Sport
Dam Batu is not simply a game of luck. It requires attentiveness, concentration, strategic planning and the ability to anticipate an opponent's possible moves. These qualities provide a foundation for developing Dam Batu into a competitive game in which participants from different backgrounds can compete against one another.
Said sees public enthusiasm as an important prerequisite for organising more tournaments. In his view, regularly held competitions could introduce the game to a wider audience while helping participants improve their playing skills.
"As we know, dominoes or Dam Batu competitions are becoming increasingly popular among the public. Hopefully, it can become a sporting discipline in the future, with competitions held nationwide," he said confidently.
This aspiration is one of the central messages of the
Sumpah Pemuda Cup 2. By organising the tournament, the Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament is not only creating an opportunity for journalists and administrative staff to socialise, but also helping preserve the popularity of a game widely enjoyed by the public.
However, achieving national recognition will require support from a range of stakeholders. Tournament organisers, playing communities and relevant organisations can help involve more participants, establish standardised competition rules and promote more structured championships.
These steps are important if
Dam Batu is to develop beyond a recreational pastime and establish a solid foundation for competitions governed by clearly defined standards. Official recognition as a
national sporting discipline, however, would require the appropriate procedures and institutional support.
SAID ILHAM ASSEGAF PUTS SOLIDARITY FIRST: Said Ilham Assegaf, chairman of the Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament, stressed that friendship and solidarity mattered more than simply winning at the Dam Batu Sumpah Pemuda Cup 2 tournament. (PHOTO: Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament)
Tournament Strengthens Ties Between Journalists and Parliamentary Staff
Beyond its ambition to develop
Dam Batu, the
Sumpah Pemuda Cup 2 also highlighted the role traditional games can play in strengthening social relationships. Participants competed in a relaxed atmosphere while using tactical skills to gain an advantage in each round.
The involvement of journalists and administrative staff from Medan City Regional Parliament also provided an opportunity to interact outside their usual professional routines. The event helped improve communication and strengthen personal relationships among people who work within the parliamentary environment on a daily basis.
For Said, solidarity remains at the heart of the tournament. He believes the outcome of a match is not the only measure of success. Equally important are the willingness to participate, fair play and the cultivation of friendship.
This spirit reflects the significance of the 98th anniversary of Indonesia's Youth Pledge, whose message highlights the importance of unity in a diverse society. Through simple activities such as a Dam Batu tournament, people can experience a sense of community through direct interaction, regardless of their professions or responsibilities.
DAM BATU AIMS TO REACH THE NATIONAL COMPETITION STAGE: Said Ilham Assegaf, chairman of the Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament, hopes growing interest in dominoes, or
Dam Batu, will pave the way for competitions to be held nationwide. (PHOTO: Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament)
Sumpah Pemuda Cup 2 Continues Tournament Tradition
The
Dam Batu Sumpah Pemuda Cup 2 is the continuation of an earlier edition that received a positive response. Holding the tournament again demonstrates the Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament's commitment to maintaining opportunities for social interaction while continuing to encourage interest in
Dam Batu.
The organisers have combined recreation, friendship and sporting competition in an activity held alongside a national commemoration. The tournament therefore serves not only as a recreational event, but also as a means of promoting fair play and highlighting the potential of traditional games.
In the future, regularly organised tournaments could help sustain participants' enthusiasm. With broader support from playing communities and continued promotion,
Dam Batu could attract more competitors and develop towards a higher level of competition.
For the Journalists' Coordination Group of Medan City Regional Parliament, the Sumpah Pemuda Cup 2 forms part of its wider effort to strengthen social cohesion while advocating greater recognition for Dam Batu. Said Ilham Assegaf sees the game as more than entertainment; he believes it has sporting potential that deserves further development.
Through the tournament, Medan's parliamentary journalists hope growing public interest will provide a starting point for bringing
Dam Batu to the national competition stage. Achieving that goal will require regular events, standardised rules and support from a range of stakeholders to turn this aspiration into tangible progress.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala