Muhammad Akmal Fahriza, a student of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (DTMM FTUI) won two titles in the International Taekwondo competition. Visual and Individual categories at the 2022 Online World Taekwondo Association Championship.
Akmal participated in this competition representing the Universitas Indonesia under the guidance and auspices of the Taekwondo UI Student Activity Unit (UKM). There are around 13 athletes representing UI in the Seoul National University Taekwondo Virtual International Championship 2022 competition and 8 athletes in the 2022 Online World Taekwondo Association Championship competition, including Akmal as an outstanding athlete from FTUI. When participating in this competition, Akmal competed with athletes from various countries, such as the Philippines, India, and Malaysia.
“All series of competitions are held online, I and the UKM Taekwondo team tapped to make a video to take part in this competition. The atmosphere of competitions held online provides a different pressure when compared to competitions held offline. In offline competitions, the pressure comes when dealing directly with rivals. However, the pressure when competing online is on the scoring system where we have to wait until the end,” said Akmal.
At the Seoul National University Taekwondo Virtual International Championship 2022, Akmal competed in the Advance Speed Kicking category. While in the 2022 Online World Taekwondo Association Championship, Akmal participated in the Visual and Individual categories. The scoring criteria used to determine the winner are seen in how athletes can use various types of moves which are then counted as the final points of each athlete. Akmal himself took part in both categories in the 60 kg class.
Organizing competitions that are held online and a scoring system that only refers to data points makes the competition feel even tighter. “I have a strategy to be consistent in every practice and show my best performance. Until finally, I can be proud of myself, UI, and Indonesia.”
Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Heri Hermansyah, ST., M.Eng., IPU expressed his appreciation for Akmal’s achievements as the winner of two Medals in the International Taekwondo competition. “It is proven that Akmal’s consistency has led him to win two International Taekwondo medals. I hope that this spirit of consistency is shared by other FTUI students. FTUI, UI, and Indonesia’s proud achievements must be fully supported. So those outstanding talents continue to emerge,” he said.
Akmal has been involved in the world of Taekwondo since he was 14 years old. He has won many other achievements in the world of Taekwondo, namely the Gold Medal at The Kick Indonesia, the 2016 DKI Jakarta Governor Championship, the Bronze Medal at the 2016 MOK’s Open Series II, and the 2016 MOK’s 4th Setu Taekwondo Competition Bronze Medal.
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Bureau of Public Communications
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia