Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia and Russia agreed to strengthen cooperation in youth development and sports, including athlete training, exchange programs, and digital sports innovation, Indonesia’s youth and sports minister said.Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir met Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Gennadievich Tolchenov to discuss expanding bilateral ties in the sector, according to an official statement Wednesday.“We are focusing on expanding global networks for Indonesian youth and strengthening the athlete development ecosystem in priority sports,” Thohir said.Both sides discussed broader cooperation, including youth exchange programs, joint training for athletes and coaches, and participation in international sporting events.Russia was seen as having valuable experience and a structured sports development system that could serve as a reference for improving Indonesian athletes’ performance.Thohir said the partnership aims to broaden international exposure for young Indonesians while strengthening athlete development across key disciplines.He described cooperation with Russia as a strategic step to support progress in Indonesia’s youth and sports sectors.“We are also opening opportunities to explore the sports industry, including phygital games innovation as part of Indonesia’s digital transformation in sports,” he said.Phygital games, which combine physical and digital elements, are emerging as a focus in the sports industry and are expected to attract younger audiences while creating new economic opportunities.Thohir said the initiative could help position Indonesia within the growing global ecosystem of technology-driven sports.He added that stronger cooperation is expected to boost human resource development and improve Indonesia’s international sports performance.The minister expressed hope that the partnership would help inspire a new generation of Indonesian athletes to compete globally while enhancing future sporting achievements.