130 participants took part in the Kagama Cup Tennis Tournament at Universitas Gadjah Mada’s (UGM) Lembah Sports Hall on October 17–18. Organized by the Gadjah Mada University Alumni Family (Kagama), it marked its 19th edition, bringing alumni back together through tennis. Attended by the Chair of the UGM Academic Senate, Professor Wahyudi Kumorotomo, and the Chair of the UGM Board of Professors, Professor Panut Mulyono. Officially opened by UGM Director of Student Affairs, Dr. Hempri Suyatna, and Chair of UGM’s 77th Anniversary Committee, Professor Siti Murtiningsih.
Wikan Sakarinto, Ph.D., chair of the organizing committee, explained that the competition began as a way to get together and play tennis. It later developed into a tournament to make the gathering more engaging and lively.
“The main purpose has always been to reunite. It is a reunion combined with tennis. A reunion with just a game of tennis would not be quite as lively, so we decided to organize a tournament,” Wikan said.
The tournament is not merely to compete for a place on the podium. The winning players may also be selected to represent Kagama in tennis competitions against alumni associations from other universities in Indonesia.
“We usually include the winners in the Kagama team that competes against alumni associations from other campuses. Those competitions are held every year, just like the Kagama Cup,” he said.
UGM Director of Student Affairs Dr. Hempri Suyatna said the Kagama Cup Tennis Tournament represents a form of collaboration between UGM and its alumni community. He hopes that this collaboration would extend beyond sports and develop into partnerships across various other activities.
“I believe this collaboration should not be limited to the tennis court but should also extend to other types of activities,” Hempri said when opening the 2026 Kagama Cup Tennis Tournament.
The Chair of UGM’s 77th Anniversary Committee, Professor Siti Murtiningsih, also wished the participants success and hopes that the tournament would continue to reconnect alumni.
“I believe this event provides an opportunity to maintain and nurture relationships, and that is something we must continue to cherish. Today’s matches are not simply about winning or losing; they are also an opportunity to build connections and strengthen bonds of friendship,” she said.
Wira, the treasurer of the 2026 Kagama Cup Tennis Tournament, explained that this year’s competition featured three categories: players aged 65 and above (KU 65), players aged 55 and above (KU 55), and a combined-age doubles category with a total age of 85 years (KU 85). The tournament ran for two days, with a different competition format on each day.
“On the first day, we use a group-stage format, so each player can compete three or four times. On the second day, we move into the round of 16 and begin the knockout stage,” Wira explained.
To accommodate the matches, the organizers used four outdoor courts at UGM and four indoor courts at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY). The semifinals and finals for all three categories were scheduled to take place at UGM’s Lembah Sports Hall on the second day of the tournament.
Wira also acknowledged that securing sponsors had been challenging this year amid unfavorable economic. Nevertheless, the participants’ support and strong sense of community helped ensure that the tournament went ahead.
“Finding sponsors has been quite tricky this year because the economy is not in the best shape. However, with the participants’ strong sense of camaraderie and our motto, ‘by the participants, for the participants,’ we have worked together to make it happen. Some have contributed tennis balls, food and refreshments, match-related support, and other necessities,” he said.
The benefits of the Kagama Cup Tennis Tournament were also evident among its participants. Ringgo, a Kagama member and a student in UGM’s 2021 Master of Management cohort, said the tournament was one of the annual events he looked forward to because it brought together alumni from diverse professional and personal backgrounds.
“This annual event is an opportunity to reconnect, especially for UGM alumni who play tennis. Alumni working in Jakarta and other parts of Indonesia can gather once a year for this tennis event. But it is about more than tennis; it is also about maintaining our relationships,” Ringgo said.
For him, the tournament’s greatest value lies not in the prizes or the event’s scale, but in maintaining relationships among alumni. These can also open up new opportunities through the exchange of information and experiences.
“We are not looking for bigger prizes or a particular level of hospitality. The main purpose is to maintain our connections,” he said.
Ringgo hopes that the UGM alumni tennis tournament will continue in the years to come.
“It is important to sustain this event so that alumni continue to have a place to meet, exercise, and strengthen their networks,” he concluded.
During the tournament, Akhdiyat Duta Modjo, vocalist of the band Sheila on 7, also stopped by to watch the matches. Although he did not compete, Duta came specifically to support a close former classmate at UGM’s Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP UGM). Duta recently took up tennis and now practices twice a week.
Author: M. Aidil Syahputra
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photos: Aidil and UGM Tennis Community Documentation