UMSU students won 1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze at the Thailand Open 2023 Karate Championship
Karate athletes who are students of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, won 1 gold medal, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal at the International Championship, Thailand Open Karate Championship 2023. The match occurred in Pathum Thani, Thailand, September 6-10, 2023. Followed by 659 athletes from 18 countries including France, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The gold medal was won by Nicky Dwi Oktary in the Senior Female +61 kg Kumite number, Reza Mahendra won the Silver medal in the Male +75 kg Kumite number, and Maxmiliano Efendi who dropped in the Male +84 Kg Kumite number. Max almost won the Gold medal in this number, but due to a severe injury, he finally had to be satisfied with only bringing home a silver medal. Furthermore, Neo Zhanjibran and Hanifsyah won bronze medals in the senior category in the Kata Team Male number.
UMSU Rector, Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP expressed his appreciation and congratulations to students who have made Indonesia proud, especially UMSU with achievements in the International karate championship.
“The international achievements achieved are a matter of pride for Indonesia, especially UMSU,” he said.
The Rector also conveyed the achievements made by UMSU students at the international level, showing that the quality of private universities is not inferior to state universities. Moreover, in the international karate championship, many athletes were followed within ASEAN and Europe.
“What these students achieve can motivate others to practice developing their talents and abilities seriously. Meanwhile, students who achieve achievements should not feel satisfied and continue to practice because maintaining achievement is much more difficult than achieving it,” he said.
Separately, Vice Rector III, Dr. Rudianto, M.Si, added that UMSU provides full support to students to develop talents and achievements in the academic and non-academic fields. The campus provides facilities and infrastructure for students to achieve achievements at the national and international levels.
Then, the Head of the Bureau of Student Affairs and Alumni, Dr. Radiman, M.Si, who accompanied and witnessed this championship, said that UMSU karate athletes had fought optimally.
“For students who have just joined UMSU, namely Aji and Nasywa, this championship aims to gain experience participating in international championships and senior athletes as preparation if they later become representatives of North Sumatra to participate in the 21st PON in 2024 and hopefully become representatives of Indonesia at the Sea Games in 2025,” he said.
On that occasion, Muhammad Rian Fauzan, Chairperson of UKM Karate representing the athletes, expressed his gratitude to the Chancellor Prof. Agussani, MAP, the Vice Chancellors, and the UMSU academic community for their moral and material support so that UKM Karate UMSU was the only campus in Sumatra to participate in this prestigious championship.
This year’s championship is extraordinary because many foreign athletes appear. Moreover, the strength between countries seems almost balanced. In addition, many national teams utilized this championship as a test event ahead of PON 2024 and Sea Games in 2025.
UMSU students who participated in this championship included Yudha Arya Guna, Hanifsyah Siregar, Neo Zhanjibran, Nicky Dwi Oktary, Reza Mahendra and Maxmiliano Efendi, Coach M. Arif Fhadilah, also accompanied the Head of UKM Karate, Muhammad Rian Fauzan UMSU and the Head of the Bureau of Student Affairs and Alumni, Dr. Radiman, M.Si.
