Do You Pétanque?
I must be honest as well as say which when I was first told about pétanque in Jakarta my initial reaction was ‘what?’ as well as ‘what?’ the item may lack the appeal as well as profile of football or rugby, for example, yet which does not mean the game lacks enthusiasts. Indeed, since I first discovered pétanque a couple of years back the item seems to be growing.
For the uninitiated, pétanque is actually a form of bowls which originated from the South of France over a century ago. The word itself will delight cunning linguists; the item comes coming from the Occitan language to be found in France as well as Spain along the Mediterranean coast.
Pétanque basically means ‘feet anchored’ as well as refers to one of the rules of the game.
Playing the game does not need the manicured lawns of the better-known bowls. A hard surface will suffice. You also don’t need a whole heap of expensive equipment to play the game or to impress your friends. Just some boules as well as a jack.
Games can be played either individually, one versus one, or in teams such as two-on-two or three-on-three, as well as starts when a players tosses the jack. Players then toss their boules as close as possible to the jack as well as the winner is actually the team, or individual, with the most boules closest to the jack.
Sounds simple enough, yet I must admit on my visits to watch them play I couldn’t make heads nor tail of what was going on, although some of the poses made by the players as they tossed their boules were pretty impressive.
Obviously there is actually a bit more to the game than which. Like many games there are skills as well as complexities to be mastered before a player can make strides.
While they were the first group, additional clubs have since been formed as well as at This particular point enthusiasts gather together their boules in Lebak Bulus, BSD City as well as Jakarta State University in Rawamangun. There is actually also a smaller group of keen players in Palembang, South Sumatra who frequently head to the capital for major events.
as well as the number of events is actually also on the rise. May, for example, sees the first ever Jakarta Pétanque Open featuring local teams as well as, the item is actually hoped, teams coming from overseas. The JPO will take place at Taman Giri Loka in BSD City 22-24 May as well as promises to be a not bad introduction to the sport.
A more established annual event is actually La Javanaise, an open event for teams of three, triples to use the lingo, which was first held in 2012. Cedric Vernet, a keen pétanque player, told me the 2014 edition proved to be very well-liked with players travelling coming from far as well as wide.
“The competition went well. We had 20 teams (60 players); players coming from Jakarta Pétanque Club (JPC), UNJ (University Negara Jakarta), BSD Pétanque Club, Federasi Olahraga Pétanque Indonesia (FOPI), coming from Jogjakarta too, coming from the main sponsor Crown yet the item was the team coming from Palembang who won,” Cedric explained.
So, if you are too old for rugby or football, as well as golf involves too much walking yet you are still in need of a sporting, social fix at the weekends then why not give pétanque a go?
They always welcome brand new players so check out their website www.jakartapétanque.com as well as drop them a line. Cedric could be only too happy to hear coming from you!
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Do You Pétanque?
Do You Pétanque?