A 2019 Geophysics Study Program student from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UI, Rifqi Nurfahan, who is a member of the UI Taekwondo team, won a silver medal for UI in Taekwondo E-Poomsae & Speed Kicking Papua Open 2021 Virtual Championship. Rifqi was one of 7 (seven) UI contingents who won medals in the championship.
This championship was organized by FAD Taekwondo Center Papua in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia as an effort to revive the sports atmosphere in Indonesia, especially in the Taekwondo sport. Followed by a total of 1,367 athletes from 107 dojang units (training places or clubs) from 26 provinces throughout Indonesia, this championship was broadcast live streaming on the official Papua Open Official Youtube account.
In an interview with the FMIPA UI Public Relations Team, Rifqi explained that the athletes were asked to make videos according to the competition categories they participated in (Poomsae category (movement art in taekwondo) and Speed Kicking category), then they submitted the videos to the committee within the period of 8-15 May 2021, and then broadcast on the Papua Open Official Youtube on 29-31 May 2021. During the broadcast, the referee team will make an assessment and the winners will be announced immediately after the broadcast of each category is complete.
Rifqi, who this year was also entrusted to serve as the Chair of UI Taekowondo for the 2020-2021 period, admitted that there were challenges that he and his colleagues on the UI Taekwondo team had to overcome, one of which was that the training time to take part in this championship had to be held during the month of Ramadan.
“The challenge is in time. It so happens that we are also training during the fasting month, so we have to adjust to those who are fasting. We have to be smart in managing our stamina and time so that both can work,” said Rifqi.
Nevertheless, Rifqi feels grateful because the challenges can be overcome so that he and his colleagues at Taekwondo UI managed to contribute 7 medals in this championship. Rifqi hopes that he can consistently pursue his taekwondo talent and motivate other FMIPA students to actively contribute in various fields even though we are still in a pandemic situation.
“My personal hope is that I can be consistent in the field that I am pursuing, namely taekwondo. As for the hope for other (FMIPA UI students), I hope that we can all actively contribute, whatever the field, the important thing is that we can continue to adapt even though there is still a pandemic like this. There is a way, you know, to continue to make the name of the campus and also FMIPA UI proud,” concluded Rifqi ending the interview.
For the achievements of its contingents, UI managed to bring home 2 (two) gold medals, 3 (three) silver medals, and 2 (two) bronze medals. The following is the medal tally of all UI Taekwondo contingents at the 2021 Virtual Taekwondo Papua Open championship.
Muhaimin (Fakultas Psikologi 2019), peraih medali emas
Fadiyah (Fakultas Kedokteran 2020), peraih medali emas
Rifqi Nurfahan (FMIPA UI 2019), peraih medali perak
Faizi (Fakultas Hukum 2019), peraih medali perak
Naufal (Fakultas Teknik 2020), peraih medali perak
Yasmin (Fakultas Kedokteran 2019), peraih medali perunggu
Bagas (Alumni Fakultas Teknik 2015), peraih medali perunggu
Article compiled by FMIPA UI Public Relations Contributor: Theo Andita Nugraha (Statistics 2017)
Editor: FMIPA UI Public Relations Team
