The Karate Student Club of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again delivered an outstanding performance at the national level, returning home with ten medals from the Open Karate Championship Sunan Kalijaga Cup XIII 2026. The national open karate championship was organized by the Student Activity Unit of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta and held on May 1–2, 2026, at the Prof. Amin Abdullah Building, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Yogyakarta. The event drew 74 contingents from across the Indonesian archipelago from Sabang in the west to Merauke in the east making it one of the largest national karate championships ever held in Yogyakarta. The UGM contingent delivered a dominant performance throughout the competition, securing eight gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal.
UGM’s eight gold medals were earned through consistent and competitive performances across multiple categories. Zafira Nayla Mumtaz from the Faculty of Agriculture stood out as the most decorated athlete in the kata events, claiming two accolades simultaneously: first place in the U21 Women’s Individual Kata category and the coveted Best of the Best Women’s Individual Kata award, cementing her status as the standout performer in kata at this championship. Athifah Rahmadhani, also from the Faculty of Agriculture, reaffirmed her consistency in kumite by winning gold in the Senior Women’s Kumite -55 Kg category. Kanaya Putri Lafau from the Faculty of Law contributed gold in the U21 Women’s Kumite -50 Kg category, while her fellow Faculty of Law athlete Muhammad Razaq claimed gold in the U21 Women’s Kumite -60 Kg category.
Three additional gold medals were claimed from the Student/Staff Festival category, which featured athletes competing in men’s 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 emerged as champion in the Men’s Kumite -67 Kg category. Naufal Dimas Rafi’i from the Vocational School completed UGM’s dominance in the Festival category by claiming gold in the Men’s Kumite -55 Kg event. This sweep of gold medals in the Festival category demonstrates the depth and consistency of UGM’s athletic quality across all weight classes and competition divisions.
Two non-gold medals further enriched UGM’s haul at the championship. Dwi Wulandari from the Faculty of Agriculture claimed silver in the Student/Staff Festival Women’s Individual Kata Black Belt category, showcasing her competitive quality in the kata discipline. Muhammad Faiz Darmawan from the Faculty of Cultural Sciences secured bronze in the U21 Men’s Individual Kata category, rounding out a cross-faculty contribution that has become a hallmark of UGM Karate Student Club at every competition. The diversity of faculties represented among the medal winners spanning Agriculture, Law, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, the Vocational School, and Cultural Sciences reflects the broad and inclusive athlete development base of UGM Karate Student Club.
The Chair of UGM Karate Student Club expressed immense pride and gratitude for the achievements delivered by all athletes at the championship. The Chair also conveyed hope that this accomplishment would serve as motivation and a springboard for all members to continue raising their performance and competing at an even higher level in future tournaments, both nationally and internationally. “This achievement can be a motivation and a stepping stone for UGM Karate Student Club to keep excelling at the national and international level. UGM Karate Student Club is hoped to continue being a place for UGM students to develop their talent and passion in karate,” said the Chair of UGM Karate Student Club.
Author: Naja Ganiswara Ramadhani
Editor: Ahmad Yuana Putra