Amid the demanding process of completing his master’s thesis at the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), Rian Hendris Saputra has brought pride to Indonesia by winning a bronze medal in the Men’s 79 kg Combat Sambo event at the 2026 Asia and Oceania Sambo Championship. Organized by the International Sambo Federation (FIAS), the championship took place from June 25 to 28, 2026, at the Century Park Hotel Grand Ballroom in Manila, Philippines.
Rian represented the Indonesian National Sambo Team and competed against more than 500 athletes from across Asia and Oceania. Participants included athletes from Australia and New Zealand. His podium finish demonstrates that Indonesian students are capable of competing at the highest international level and can balance both academic excellence and athletic achievement.
Rian is in the final semester of the Master’s Program in Civil Engineering at FTUI, specializing in Transportation Engineering. Despite his intensive thesis demands, he remains committed to his rigorous national athlete training schedule.
“Being a final-semester master’s student while working on my thesis is certainly challenging. I have to manage my time carefully between training and completing my research, usually making the most of early mornings or late evenings in between academic commitments,” said Rian.
According to him, balancing the roles of graduate student and national athlete has strengthened his discipline and focus.
“At this stage, I have learned that consistency is the key. Even while working on my thesis, I continue to maintain my training routine because both are responsibilities that I am determined to fulfill to the best of my ability,” he added.
Rian’s journey in martial arts began during his school years through wrestling. He later expanded his expertise by training in judo and boxing before dedicating himself to sambo over the past five years. The combination of these martial arts disciplines has become a strong foundation for his success at both the national and international levels.
Before competing at the continental championship, Rian won the gold medal and was crowned Combat Sambo Champion at the 2025 National Martial Arts Games (PON Bela Diri) in Kudus, Central Java, representing the Jakarta provincial team. This achievement marked a significant milestone, earning him a spot on the Indonesian National Sambo Team in 2026 and the opportunity to represent Indonesia at the 2026 Asia and Oceania Sambo Championship.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for Rian’s remarkable accomplishment. According to him, the achievement reflects that FTUI students are equipped not only with academic excellence but also with the character, discipline, and determination required to excel on the global stage.
“Rian’s achievement demonstrates that FTUI students possess global competitiveness in both academic and non-academic fields. His success proves that perseverance, discipline, and effective time management can empower students to excel across diverse areas. We hope his accomplishment will inspire other students to continue pursuing excellence and bringing honor to Indonesia on the international stage,” said Prof. Kemas.
Rian’s accomplishment stands as a testament to the ability of FTUI students to develop their full potential both inside the classroom and in international sporting competitions. It also reinforces FTUI’s commitment to fostering students’ holistic development through education, research, innovation, arts, and sports, producing graduates who are not only academically outstanding but also resilient, principled, and well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to the nation.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
