More than 1,000 residents packed an open-air stadium surrounded by sugarcane fields in Purwosono, a village in Lumajang Regency, East Java Province, to watch the final round of a volleyball competition on Thursday night (November 13).
The tournament, initiated and organized by Purwosono Village officials, was inspired by the Village Super League in Guizhou Province, southwest China.
Purwosono Village Head, Hendrik Dwi Martono, visited several villages in China in 2023 through a village head program to study rural development, including villages in Beijing, Zhejiang, and Anhui.
Since returning home, Hendrik has maintained a strong interest in rural development practices in China. He learned about the Village Super League, or Cun Chao, which originates from the Rongjiang region of Guizhou Province, through social media and local news.
In 2023, the Village Super League became a national sensation in China. Since then, the event has attracted visitors from around the world with activities such as weaving, embroidery, and rice paddy fish farming.
"The Village Super League is truly amazing. It's exciting to watch football clubs representing villages compete professionally. The event has a really great spirit," Hendrik told Xinhua.
Motivated, Hendrik then organized a professional-level sports competition for volleyball teams from surrounding villages.
He stated that the tournament aimed to boost the local economy, empower youth, and strengthen relationships with neighboring communities.
"We chose volleyball because it has long been popular here, and we also used an open tournament format," said the 50-year-old village head, adding that more than 30 villages participated in the championship.
Local resident Umi Kulsum was among the most enthusiastic supporters.
She and her family rode their motorbikes to the stadium early to secure seats. "The stadium will be crowded, so it's better to arrive early," she said.
Umi proposed making the tournament an annual event, with the host rotating among the villages. "This tournament will entertain not only our village, but also the neighboring villages," she said.
The stadium was filled with a festive atmosphere as the crowd cheered for their teams. The organizers allowed each team to recruit up to two national players.