Nurturing Young Talent through Muhammadiyah Sport Competition

For the first time ever, the Muhammadiyah Sport Competition 2025 multi-sport event is being held. The opening ceremony took place at the Sports Hall (GOR) of UMS Campus II, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), on Monday (28/7/2025).

The chairman of the MSC committee, Nurhidayat, S.Pd., M.Or., who is also a lecturer in Physical Education at UMS, explained that MSC is a sports competition for elementary (SD/MI) to junior high school (SMP) students across the Solo Raya region. The competition is an initiative of the Arts, Culture, and Sports Institution (LSBO) under the Muhammadiyah Branch Leadership (PCM) of Colomadu, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, in collaboration with the Physical Education Department at UMS.

Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Sport Competition 2025, Nurhidayat, S.Pd., M.Or., delivers a speech during the opening ceremony at the Sports Hall of UMS Campus II, Monday, July 28, 2025. UMS Public Relations/Gede Arga Adrian

“This is a multi-sport event for elementary to junior high school students, featuring five sports disciplines: soccer, futsal, archery, badminton, and pencak silat,” said Nurhidayat.

In its inaugural edition, MSC is joined by 716 students from 110 elementary and junior high schools across the Solo Raya region. MSC 2025 will be held from July 28 to 31, 2025. The matches will take place at the Sports Hall and Field of UMS Campus II, as well as Bolon Sports Hall in Karanganyar.

When asked about future targets, Nurhidayat stated that MSC is planned to expand to the provincial level in Central Java. He hopes more young athletic talents can be cultivated through the competition.

A row of trophies displayed at UMS Campus II Sports Hall, Monday, July 28, 2025. UMS Public Relations/Gede Arga Adrian

“At its core, UMS and LSBO PCM Colomadu are focused on developing early-age sports to improve the quality of future athlete candidates,” he added.

Head of Interests, Talents, and Scholarships at the UMS Student Affairs Bureau, Drs. Suyatmin Waskito Adi, M.Si., in his remarks, expressed full support from UMS for the implementation of MSC 2025. He hopes that future editions of MSC can establish collaborations with other autonomous Muhammadiyah organizations.

“We hope this event can help develop the athletic potential of students, especially those from Muhammadiyah schools. Hopefully, it can lead to collaboration with other autonomous Muhammadiyah organizations,” said Suyatmin.

Attending the opening of MSC were Chairman of the Karanganyar Regional Muhammadiyah Board Muhammad Arif Babher, S.Ag., M.Pd., Chairman of PCM Colomadu Seno Arianto, S.E., and LSBO PCM Colomadu advisor and Head of UMS Physical Education Department Dr. Nur Subekti, S.Pd., M.Or.

Chairman of the Karanganyar Regional Muhammadiyah Board, Muhammad Arif Babher, S.Ag., M.Pd., delivers remarks and advice to participants during the opening of the Muhammadiyah Sport Competition at UMS Campus II Sports Hall, Monday, July 28, 2025. Photo: UMS Public Relations/Gede Arga Adrian

In his address to the participants, Chairman of PDM Karanganyar Muhammad Arif Babher said that student participation in MSC is a form of worship. The effort to organize MSC is a deed with great spiritual reward.

“Sports are also part of worship, and they carry great value in the eyes of Allah. Because Allah loves His strong servants, those who are physically and spiritually healthy and intelligent,” he said.

The event then continued with an opening ceremony and the beating of the gong by the Chairman of PDM Karanganyar. The gong marked the official start of MSC 2025.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Editor: Fika Annisa Solihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid