A Sweet Debut in a Fantastic Event
Young karateka from Kudus, Muhammad Dzaka Hibatullah, secured a bronze medal for the Central Java contingent at the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026.
Competing in the men's -75 kg kumite event at Djarum Arena 2A, Kaliputu, Kudus, Central Java, on Thursday (Oct 23), Dzaka showed confidence from the preliminary rounds. However, his journey ended in the semifinals against national training camp athlete Ignatius Joshua Kandou from East Java.
Although he did not reach the final, Dzaka's achievement is a source of pride for himself, his family, and the people of Kudus.
"I am very happy, thank God. This is my first time representing Central Java and it was at the PON. Even though it is only bronze, this is my best result," Dzaka said with a smile after the match.
A Sweet Debut on Home Turf
Competing before a home crowd provided extra motivation for the young karateka, who noted that he had prepared to face tough opponents since the warm-up.
"From the start, I knew the opponents were skilled. My coach directed me to stay calm and enjoy it so I could perform at my best," he said.
He acknowledged that his toughest challenge came from East Java, which featured athletes from the national training center. "I hope in the future I can also make it to the national training center," he added.
Dzaka also praised the organization of the karate event at this year's Martial Arts PON. "The venue is excellent; it is cool, not humid, and the warm-up area is spacious, which allowed athletes to move and prepare freely," he said.
Support from Mother is Key
In the stands, his mother, Bibit, remained a constant source of support throughout the match. She expressed her pride in seeing her son compete against senior karatekas.
"Thank God, it was impressive. This is his debut in this class, and the others were all seniors. He did well to keep up with Joshua earlier. This is a very valuable experience for him," Bibit said with glowing eyes.
She noted that their personal expectations were realistic. "From the beginning, I didn't expect gold—maybe silver or bronze—and as it turns out, he got bronze. That is extraordinary for a beginner," she said with a smile.
A Message for the Youth of Kudus
Dzaka hopes his achievement will inspire other young people in Kudus to pursue martial arts.
"For martial arts athletes from Kudus, dare to aim for achievements. Aside from being healthy, it can also make your parents proud," he said.
With this accomplishment, Muhammad Dzaka Hibatullah does not just return with a medal, but also brings new hope for the emergence of young karate talent from Kudus. (Daniel Tanamal)
source: ponbeladiri.com
