Four students from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), achieved remarkable success at the XXI National Sports Week (PON) held in Aceh-North Sumatra. Muhammad Arya Jingga (Mechanical Engineering 2022), a member of the DKI Jakarta Men’s Baseball Team, won a gold medal after a final match against Banten. Meanwhile, Owen J.R. Davys (Environmental Engineering 2020), Zaki Yudha Maraufa (Industrial Engineering 2019), and Achmadestu Sashenka Djadi (Architecture 2023), members of the DKI Jakarta Men’s Softball Team, secured second place and earned silver medals.
The Baseball event at PON XXI 2024 took place at the Tugu Field, Syiah Kuala University, Banda Aceh, from September 1-14, 2024. After advancing through the super round, the final match saw DKI Jakarta and Banten face off. DKI Jakarta’s baseball team clinched the gold medal after defeating Banten with a score of 7-5 in the final. This victory made DKI Jakarta the only region to win consecutive gold medals in Baseball for six different PON events.
“I started my baseball career in middle school. I have also been part of the U-15 and U-19 teams representing DKI Jakarta and won 1st place in the National Championship (Kejurnas). I then went through the selection process and was chosen to be part of the team representing DKI Jakarta at PON XXI. After training for around two and a half years, I am grateful that the DKI Jakarta baseball team has won another gold medal at PON XXI, which is the sweet result of our team’s hard work,” said Arya.
Meanwhile, the Softball event took place in Meulaboh, Aceh, from September 9-15, 2024. The DKI Jakarta Men’s Softball Team, consisting of 17 top players from various Softball clubs, was selected through rigorous trials. The team prepared for approximately two years, including conducting Try-outs in the Philippines and Thailand and participating in several international tournaments. In the PON XXI tournament, DKI Jakarta led the game early in the innings but narrowly conceded to the opponent in the seventh inning with a score of 4-3, allowing West Java to claim the championship.
“For this PON, we trained together for about two years. We have often played together, whether on the same team or against each other. We also held a two-month training camp where we lived and trained together every day. Although the result did not meet our expectations, I am still proud to be part of the DKI Jakarta team and to have gone through this journey. Even though each of us might have faced different obstacles, we achieved our goal as a team to bring home medals for Jakarta,” said Zaki.
As an athlete and an active FTUI student, Owen shared how he manages his time between softball and academics. “Over the past two years, one of the most valuable lessons for me has been about time management. Especially with my academic responsibilities, including attending classes and working on my thesis. To fulfil all obligations, I learned how to prioritize more pressing needs between studies and softball. For instance, if there is an exam or deadline, I prioritize my studies. However, if there is a softball event, such as a tournament or a match out of town or abroad, I ensure all my academic tasks are completed, even if I am unable to be on campus directly.”
The XXI National Sports Week (PON) Aceh-Sumut 2024 is the largest national sports event in Indonesia, involving 39 contingents from 38 provinces, with over 12,000 athletes participating in various sports disciplines. This 21st edition of PON is also special, as it is the first to be hosted by two provinces, Aceh and North Sumatra. The event featured 34 sports held in North Sumatra and 33 sports held in Aceh.
In addition to Baseball and Softball, another FTUI student, Markus Toshimasa (Mechanical Engineering 2023), participated in the PON XXI gymnastics event. Although the results were not as expected, the experience of competing at the national level was still a valuable step in enhancing skills and strengthening the mentality needed for competition.
In a separate interview, FTUI Dean Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU., praised the students’ achievements. “In addition to representing their alma mater at the national level, their success is a testament to their ability to balance the rigorous academic demands with physical training. This reflects the multi-role spirit characteristic of FTUI students, where achievements are measured not only by academic success but also by their capacity to contribute to various other aspects of life,” said Prof. Heri.
With these accomplishments, Arya, Owen, Zaki, and Achmad have proven that being an engineering student is not limited to academic pursuits but also allows for contributions in other fields, including sports. Their success in winning medals at PON XXI demonstrates that being a student does not prevent them from pursuing their passions and developing talents outside the campus. Their achievements in sports are expected to inspire other students to continue striving for their best potential in all areas they pursue.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
