Jakarta, July 12, 2025 – In an effort to improve the quality of judges and ensure consistency in scoring within the sport of Barongsai, the Central Board of the Indonesian Lion Dance Federation (PB FOBI), in collaboration with the FOBI Judges Corps, successfully organized the National Judges Seminar 2025 at Hotel Sunlake Waterfront, Sunter, Jakarta.
The seminar was attended by 38 nationally certified judges of PB FOBI and took place over a full day, from morning to evening. The event was led by Chairman Hery Lim, supported by Vice Chairs Wan Gust Halim, Andrean Wijaya, and Gunadi Wono. PB FOBI Vice President Xaverius Djunair was also present and delivered an opening speech during the seminar.
This seminar served as a platform to align judges’ understanding of the technical needs that continue to evolve alongside the rapid development of Barongsai in Indonesia. The main focus of the discussion was on additional regulations considered necessary to adapt to current conditions in the field.
The participants were highly enthusiastic and actively involved in discussions, providing valuable input regarding the adjustment of existing regulations. With this forum, it is expected that all judges will share a common perspective in scoring, helping to minimize differences in interpretation during competitions.
Beyond aligning viewpoints, this seminar was also part of an ongoing effort to regenerate qualified judges, strengthening the FOBI Judges Corps as a fair and reliable authority in both national and international Barongsai competitions. The spirit of professionalism promoted in this seminar is hoped to set a good example not only for judges across Indonesia but also for international judging communities.
At the same time, the FOBI Judges Corps has also begun preparing for FOBI’s major upcoming events, namely the National Championship (Kejurnas) 2025 in Bali, and the 2026 World Lion Dance Championship, which will also be held in Bali. These preparations are seen as strategic steps to ensure the success and credibility of events that will involve athletes and judges from various countries.
The National Judges Seminar 2025 stands as clear evidence of PB FOBI’s ongoing commitment to building a judging system that is professional, fair, and adaptive to change — all in support of advancing the sport of Barongsai on the global stage.
