Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Rector, Professor Ova Emilia, officially opened the 2025 Kagamahut Tennis Tournament, part of the 62nd Anniversary celebration of the Faculty of Forestry (Forestry UGM), on Friday (Oct. 10). This year’s competition brought together 44 participants from various alumni batches and took place from Oct. 10 to 11, 2025 at the UGM Lembah Outdoor Tennis Court.
In her opening remarks, Professor Emilia emphasized the importance of sports activities in strengthening the bonds among alumni and the academic community.
“Through events like this, we can foster warmth and solidarity that keep our community vibrant and united,” she said.
Dean of Forestry UGM, Dr. Sigit Sunarta, also expressed his appreciation for the enthusiasm of alumni who continue to maintain close ties with the faculty through various positive activities. He stated that he was proud and delighted to see Forestry alumni and partners actively preserving their sense of camaraderie.
“Sports serve as an effective way to strengthen relationships among alumni while also promoting fitness,” he remarked.
Following the opening ceremony, Professor Emilia and Dean Sunarta symbolically inaugurated the tournament by playing an exhibition game, marking the start of the 2025 Kagamahut Tennis Tournament. The matches then continued with registered participants.
Over the two-day event, each player had the opportunity to compete in four sets with different partners and opponents, and the results were accumulated to determine the top five winners.
More than just a competition, the tournament served as a platform to reconnect and strengthen alumni relationships. Ahmad Nasruddin Aljauhari, an alumnus from the class of 1981, expressed his excitement about reuniting with old friends from across Indonesia.
“We have participants from Jakarta, Bogor, and Surabaya. Winning isn’t our main goal, instead, a sense of togetherness is what truly matters,” he said.
The tournament reflected the enduring spirit of unity within the Forestry UGM community across generations. Triyono, a 2000 alumnus, shared similar sentiments about enjoying the lively atmosphere and camaraderie among participants from different cohorts.
He noted that tennis tournaments like this provide valuable opportunities to meet and connect with alumni from diverse backgrounds. He hopes such events will become a lasting tradition in the Forestry UGM’s anniversary celebrations.
“I really enjoy meeting friends from different batches, even those who are already retired. We start as strangers and end up as friends, it’s always refreshing,” he shared.
Author: Hanifah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photographs: Jesi