A total of ten medals were secured by the UGM Karate Student Activity Unit (UKM) contingent at the Open Karate Championship Sunan Kalijaga Cup XIII, held at Prof. Amin Abdullah Hall, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, on May 1–2. The ten medals, comprising eight golds, one silver, and one bronze, were won after competing against 74 contingents from various universities across Indonesia.
Head of the UGM Karate UKM, M. Razaq, stated that this achievement was the result of long-term preparation carried out since the beginning of the year.
“The athletes’ training actually began in early January in preparation for an international championship in Malaysia last April. Then, with the national-level Open Tournament Sunan Kalijaga Cup XIII, we saw this as a continuation of our preparation over approximately three months,” he said on Wednesday (6/5).
Razaq explained that the team’s success was also supported by a rigorous internal selection system and support from the university.
“We selected a maximum of two athletes for each competition category. For example, in the men’s -55 kg student category, we fielded two athletes. Meanwhile, UGM supported us with allocated funding for UKM activities and provided training facilities for regular practice,” he explained.
Mental readiness was a key factor for the athletes in handling the pressure of competition, enabling them to secure ten medals. According to Razaq, motivation from coaches played a crucial role in strengthening the athletes’ mentality.
“Our coaches always emphasized that all contingents are equal. No opponent is easy, and none is overwhelmingly strong. This mindset encouraged us to trust our abilities and remain calm under pressure, both internally and externally,” he added.
This cross-faculty achievement, Razaq noted, reflects the success of UGM’s inclusive talent development. He also hopes that this accomplishment will not lead to complacency but instead serve as a stepping stone to elevate UGM’s reputation on a broader stage.
“We hope this achievement becomes motivation and a foundation for UGM Karate UKM to continue excelling at both national and international levels,” he concluded.
At the Open Karate Championship Sunan Kalijaga Cup XIII, the UGM contingent won medals across various categories. Zafira Nayla Mumtaz from the Faculty of Agriculture delivered an outstanding performance, earning two awards: first place in the Women’s U21 Individual Kata category and the prestigious Best of the Best Women’s Individual Kata award. In the kumite category, gold medals were won by Athifah Rahmadhani from the Faculty of Agriculture in the Senior Women’s Kumite -55 kg category, Kanaya Putri Lafau from the Faculty of Law in the Women’s U21 Kumite -50 kg category, and Muhammad Razaq in the Men’s U21 Kumite -60 kg category.
In addition, three more gold medals were secured in the Student/Staff Festival category, which featured male kumite events. Francisco M. S. M. Satya from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine won gold in the Men’s Kumite -60 kg category, followed by Sulthan Nawwafsyarif Basuki from the Faculty of Engineering, who claimed first place in the Men’s Kumite -67 kg category. Naufal Dimas Rafi’i from the Vocational School completed UGM’s dominance by winning gold in the Men’s Kumite -55 kg category. This collection of gold medals highlights the depth and consistency of UGM athletes across various classes and competition categories.
In addition to the gold medals, the contingent also secured one silver and one bronze medal. Dwi Wulandari from the Faculty of Agriculture earned a silver medal in the Student/Staff Festival Women’s Individual Black Belt Kata category. Meanwhile, the bronze medal was won by Muhammad Faiz Darmawan from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences in the Men’s U21 Individual Kata category.
Author: Aldi Firmansyah
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Zabrina Kumara
Photo: Karate UKM