04 June 2026
Raisha Andini
The Karate Student Activity Unit (UKM Karate) of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) once again achieved remarkable success at the national level by winning several medals at the Pekanbaru Open National Karate Championship 2026, held from May 22–24, 2026, at the GOR Gelanggang Remaja Pekanbaru, Riau.
The national championship brought together karate athletes from universities, dojos, and regional contingents across Indonesia. The competition featured Kata and Kumite categories, divided by age groups and weight classes.
During the event, USU Karate athletes demonstrated outstanding performance through sportsmanship, discipline, and dedication, earning several prestigious awards.
USU students who won gold medals (1st place) were:
Meanwhile, Cynda Grace Breka Pasaribu also secured a silver medal (2nd place). Bronze medals (3rd place) were awarded to Furqanul Faruq and Friska Esi Sarah Panggabean from the Public Health Study Program, Faculty of Public Health.
One of the most notable achievements came from Juang Invanteri Buulolo, who won 1st place in the Men's U-21 Kumite -67 kg category. The 2024 Civil Engineering student expressed gratitude for the achievement after undergoing extensive training and preparation.
“I feel very grateful, proud, and happy about this achievement. All the training, hard work, and sacrifices have finally paid off. This accomplishment motivates me to continue improving and achieve even better results in the future,” he said.
Juang explained that his preparation included intensive physical, technical, and mental training. He also maintained a healthy diet, proper rest schedule, and regularly participated in match simulations to improve his readiness for competition.
According to him, the biggest challenge during the tournament was facing highly skilled and experienced opponents. Maintaining focus, controlling nervousness, and competing despite a minor injury were additional challenges throughout the championship.
He believes that discipline, consistency, self-confidence, and support from coaches, teammates, and family were key factors behind his success.
“Never give up because of past failures. Failure is simply delayed success. Use every setback as motivation to become the best version of yourself,” he advised fellow students aspiring to excel in sports.
In addition to training and competing, Juang strives to balance academic and extracurricular commitments through effective time management. He uses his time outside of classes to train regularly while maintaining his responsibilities as a student.
Looking ahead, Juang and other USU Karate athletes are committed to further improving their skills and participating in national and international competitions. One of their upcoming targets is a championship at Universitas Andalas in August 2026.
The achievements earned by USU Karate athletes reflect the students' commitment to developing their potential in sports. These accomplishments also demonstrate that USU students excel not only academically but also in non-academic fields, bringing pride to the university at the national level.
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