UMS Student Makes Indonesia Proud with Pencak Silat Bronze

A student of Sport Education at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), Ginting Baharudin Putra, has made the nation proud by winning a bronze medal in the Abu Dhabi 20th World Pencak Silat Championship 2024 in the men's match category.

In the first round, Ginting faced an athlete from South Korea. After successfully defeating the South Korean contender, he then overcame the host country’s athlete from the United Arab Emirates and advanced to the semifinals.

However, in the semifinals, Ginting had to acknowledge the dominance of the Thai contender. His journey ended there, and he had to settle for the bronze medal. Despite this, he remains proud of his achievement.

Ginting Baharudin Putra with his bronze medal around his neck after the award ceremony.

Speaking after winning the medal, Ginting shared his journey from preparation to competition. He revealed that he had to undergo an intensive three-month training camp (TC) in Jakarta.

“We trained three times a day, five days a week. This was a valuable experience for me,” he said on Sunday (29/12/2024).

Ginting explained that he had to make several improvisations as a strategy during the competition. This was necessary due to the limited information available about his opponents from other countries.

“We studied our opponents' playing styles through limited video footage. Improvisation was the key, especially since detailed information about competitors from other countries was not always available,” he explained.

Ginting Baharudin Putra (third from the right) posing with other athletes on the podium after the medal ceremony. 

Looking ahead, Ginting aims to qualify for the national selection and join Indonesia’s team for the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. He hopes to make an even greater contribution to the nation.

“My hope is to continue improving my achievements and represent Indonesia on the international stage,” Ginting added.

Responding to Ginting’s success, the Head of the UMS Office of Student Affairs, Ir. Ahmad Kholid Alghofari, S.T., M.T., expressed his appreciation for this remarkable achievement. He believes that Ginting’s success further reinforces UMS’s excellence not only in academics but also in fostering students' talents and interests in various fields.

“We are incredibly proud of Ginting’s achievement in representing UMS and Indonesia in an international competition. Hopefully, this success will inspire other students to excel in various fields, including sports,” he stated.

Writer: Fika

Translator: Rizal

Editor: Gede