IO – General Chairman of the All Indonesia Athletics Association (PB PASI) Executive Board, Muhammad Bob Hasan passed away at the age of 89, at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, Tuesday 31 March at eleven in the morning. He died from lung cancer, which he had been suffering for a long time.
Bob Hasan has taken root in the Indonesian athletic world for more than four decades, replacing Sayyidiman Suryohadipordjo in 1976. Bob continued to be re-elected until he became Chairman of the PB PASI 2016- 2020 period. Bob’s service earned him the title ‘Father of Indonesian Athletics’. The award was given after Bob was re-elected.
Bob continued to show dedication in creating tough athletes such as Henny Maspaitella, Emma Titikary, Purnomo M. Yudi, Mardi Lestari, Christian Nanepath, Suryo Agung Wibowo, until the latest, Lalu M. Zohri.
Zohri became a conversation topic after winning a gold medal for 100-meter number at the 2018 Asia Junior World Championships. Zohri also planned to appear at the 2020 Olympics, which have been postponed.
Bob even intended to add Indonesian representatives to the athletics branch at the Tokyo Olympics later.
Not only in athletics: Bob was also General Chairman of the Indonesian Gymnastics Association (Persani), the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi), to the Indonesian Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Association of Indonesia (PABBSI). He had also served as the Chairperson of the Asian Athletics Association and an Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee.
Bob served as the Minister of Trade and Industry at the end of the New Order.
Bob Hasan is not only famous in the sports world as the Chairman of the management of the All Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI), but also as a big businessman in Indonesia.
He started his business in the wood industry with Indonesian President Soeharto. Bob Hasan expanded into large-scale businesses to become a partner for foreign companies engaged in the timber business in Indonesia.
“We lost a dedicated sports figure. In old age, Bob Hasan still wanted to come to the Bung Karno Senayan Madya Stadium every day because of his love for sports,” said Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali.
Bob Hasan has left; thank you for all your dedication and contribution to Indonesian sports. Rest in Peace. (rp)