Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) will hold the Gadjah Mada Youth Championship, a week-long youth sports competition, from November 23 to November 30. The championship will feature six sports: pencak silat, karate, volleyball, tennis, futsal, and archery. The event aims to provide a platform for young talents to channel their abilities and to nurture future high-achieving athletes.
Putut Ariwibowo, Chairperson of Kagama Gelanggang UGM, expressed his appreciation to all parties supporting the event, particularly the students involved in various student activity units (UKM) who serve on the organizing committee. He noted that the committee is a collaborative effort involving Kagama Gelanggang, the academic community of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and student/UKM elements.
“This kick-off event marks the official start of the various preparatory programs that have been carefully designed in anticipation of the main event in November 2026,” he said on Wednesday (Apr. 29) at GOR Nusantara.
Dr. Hempri Suyatna, Director of Student Affairs at UGM, welcomed the youth sports competition. He expressed hope that the event will continue and deliver benefits, not only in developing youth talent but also in fostering character, mentality, and sportsmanship among UGM students.
“This also serves as a reminder for us at UGM to create platforms for activities that go beyond academics, and to optimize non-academic activities in supporting the character development of our students,” he said.
The Secretary General of the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) Central Board, Lukman Djajadikusuma, also conveyed his support and appreciation for the Gadjah Mada Youth Championship 2026. He expressed hope that the event could serve as a pilot project to be replicated by other universities.
“We hope this will produce national-level athletes. Beyond that, we also expect that this competition will contribute to the development of the sports industry, including sports tourism and sports science, which can grow simultaneously,” he said.
Lukman further noted that the competition could serve as an initial step in preparation for the Indonesia Youth Games, or PON Remaja, scheduled for around 2027. He emphasized the importance of such events as platforms for future athletes.
“We believe that organizing a youth-level PON is essential as a stepping stone before athletes advance to more competitive levels,” he explained.
He affirmed that the KONI Central Board is ready to provide technical assistance and training for the student organizing committee over the next six months, covering stages from event design to post-event evaluation.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Donnie