Taeknwondo club of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) joined an international competition, Mangapura Invitas Taekwondo Championship 2017, organized by Taekwondo Regional Organizer of Indonesia (Pengkab TI) Badung, Bali on Saturday (10-11/2) at Sport Center (GOR) Purna Krida, Bali.

Three of four delegates of UMY achieved medals. Amelia Dwi Juliani obtained a gold medal for female Prestasi Kyourugi under 73 category, Wahyu Titis gained a silver medal for female Prestasi Kyourugi under 73 category, and Yogo Raharjo got a bronze medal for male Prestasi Kyourugi under 73 category.

A team manager Sigit Kurniawan was proud that Taekwondo of UMY could attained medals in an international championship for the first time. However, he also regretted that Irga Afgani could not win Prestasi Poomsae category. “There were 1,000 participants form three countries, namely Timor-Leste, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The Indonesian delegates, indeed, were from Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, and Jawa,” mentioned Sigit on an interview at Public Relations and Protocol Office of UMY on Thursday (14/2).

Sigit informed that the winner was decided based on participants’ points. “Participants should reach certain determined points to be the winner. If their points were less than the qualification, they could not achieve the medals,” he explained.

Sigit also told that the athletes of UMY had prepared for the championship for three months. “They exercised five days a week, two days for physical exercises and three days for technical exercises. The athletes had won a championship in Yogyakarta several months ago,” he said.

Additionally, Sigit expected that Taekwondo of UMY can gain other achievements in both national and international championships. “I wish that we could compete in Indonesia Open, as well as the athletes could be involved in national training and could motivate their juniors to join in the Taekwondo club,” he ended.