UMS Freshman Wins Gold at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand

Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) has once again recorded an outstanding achievement on the international stage. Tito Hendra Septa Kurnia Wijaya, a first-semester student of the Physical Education Program (Penjas), Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) UMS, successfully contributed a gold medal in the men’s pencak silat event, Class E (65–70 kilograms), at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.

This achievement received high appreciation from the Dean of FKIP UMS, Prof. Dr. Anam Sutopo, M.Hum. He expressed his pride in the accomplishment of the new student, especially since Tito was recruited through the achievement track outside the Tapak Suci cadre system.

“I am very proud, because this new program developed by our colleagues in Penjas has succeeded. This is a very good pilot project for FKIP. So far, there has been a stigma that Penjas is a stronghold of Tapak Suci achievements, but it turns out that non-Tapak Suci students are also capable of achieving success at the international level,” Anam said on Thursday (8/1/2025).

According to him, this achievement demonstrates balance and equality within the Penjas UMS student environment. Whether from a Tapak Suci or non-Tapak Suci background, all students have equal opportunities to excel.

“This proves that Penjas students are ready to achieve, even at the international level. We will further strengthen this program and propose it to the university so that the new student selection process becomes more qualified, allowing us to obtain high-achieving talents from the very beginning,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs and Innovative Talent Development (DKPTI) UMS, Ir. Ahmad Kholid Alghofari, S.T., M.T., also expressed his pride in the achievement.

“Of course, we greatly appreciate this accomplishment. It further strengthens UMS as an Enlightening, Excellent, and Global campus. Not only excelling in academics, but also in non-academic fields, especially pencak silat,” he said.

He added that this success could not be separated from the hard work of the athlete, coaches, and the full support of the university leadership. According to him, this achievement is also proof that UMS is not only capable of being a good host for sporting events, but also of producing reliable athletes who are able to represent Indonesia at the international level.

“Winning this gold medal was certainly not instant. There was extraordinary hard work from the athlete and the supporting team. We at DKPTI are very grateful for the support of the UMS leadership, which allows these achievements to continue to emerge,” he explained.

Separately, Tito Hendra Septa Kurnia Wijaya shared that his preparation for the SEA Games had begun before Eid al-Fitr. He took part in the national selection and succeeded in defeating accomplished athletes, including champions of the National Sports Week and world championships.

“After passing the national selection, I joined the national training camp and underwent intensive training. Alhamdulillah, I was finally able to win the gold medal,” he said.

Tito also revealed that the support from UMS meant a great deal to him, both in the form of prayers and academic flexibility. He hopes that in the future UMS will produce more high-achieving athletes.

“Hopefully, UMS can produce even greater athletes and the campus will continue to progress,” he concluded.

Writer: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid