MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – A student of the Physical Education, the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FIP), Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ) Rafi Syanover Zubir won a gold medal from the UNESA Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship XVIII conducted on October 18-20, 2024.
Competing in the senior divisions 50kg Newaza category, Rafi emerged victorious in the Southeast Asian competition. The young athlete shared that his journey to the gold medal was not without its challenges.
“Before this competition, I had participated in Jiu-Jitsu championships twice. Alhamdulillah, I won both previous competitions. The recent one was the third time, and I was quite confident of winning,” Rafi explained in a press release on Friday, October 25.
Rafi expressed his gratitude for the support he received from his faculty and university, particularly from UMJ Vice Rector IV, Septa Candra.
“I would like to thank my father, Vice Rector IV of UMJ Dr. Septa Candra who has helped me. I almost couldn’t go to Surabaya because of financial constraints,” said Rafi.
Encouraging his fellow students, Rafi urged them to believe in their potential and strive for excellence. He emphasized that achievements like his can serve as stepping stones to future success.
“I am very grateful for this achievement. I just want to help my parents through scholarships and make UMJ proud of my achievements in national and international levels,” said Rafi.
Meanwhile, UMJ Vice Rector IV, Septa Candra, expressed his admiration and congratulated the young athlete. He encouraged Rafi to maintain his consistency in training and to aim for even greater heights in future competitions.
“UMJ will always support and appreciate the achievements of our students, both academically and non-academically. We hope that Rafi can balance his training and competitions, and achieve even greater success while completing his studies at the university,” said Septa.
