Commemorating its 74th anniversary, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) organized various sports competitions for faculty members, staff, and students. Several sports branches include volleyball, table tennis, badminton, futsal, and tennis.
The competition coordinator, Dr. Bachtiar Muttaqin, stated these sports competitions served a dual purpose–infusing vibrancy into the anniversary festivities and fostering camaraderie and collaboration among the university’s diverse community.
“This activity is designed to strengthen cooperation and the bond among the UGM community, including faculty members, staff, and students,” Dr. Muttaqin said in his statement on Friday, December 15.
The sporting spectacle spanned from November 27 to mid-December, showcasing intense competitions and a strong sense of sportsmanship. Volleyball matches for men and women were held from November 27 to December 1, 2023.
Explaining the choice of volleyball, Dr. Muttaqin highlighted its popularity and the joy it brings. Beyond its physical health benefits, volleyball fosters teamwork with participants from various segments of the UGM community, transcending gender and organizational affiliations.
“In this competition, participants are not limited to a specific gender; they can be male or female, from faculty leadership, lecturers, non-teaching staff, UGM Women’s Association, or students,” he said.
The volleyball competition saw 27 teams vying for victory, with 20 men’s teams and seven women’s teams. The Faculty of Agricultural Technology (FTP) emerged as the champion after triumphing over the Central Administration Office (KPTU) team in the final match. The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) secured the third position after defeating the Vocational College team.
Gama Residence claimed the championship in the men’s volleyball category by defeating FEB in the final match. The Graduate School secured the third spot by overcoming the K5L Office. UGM awarded the top three teams trophies, certificates, and coaching funds.
Beyond volleyball, the sports enthusiasm continued with table tennis competitions on December 9-10, futsal on December 2-3 and December 6, tennis on December 9-10, and badminton matches from December 11 to 14.
The badminton showdown featured 26 teams from various faculties and units. KPTU emerged as the ultimate champion after a thrilling 3-2 victory against FEB.
Author: Gusti Grehenson