KUDUS – Faisal Rizki endured a grueling four-day competition to secure his spot on the podium at the 2026 Central Java Student Sports Week (POPDA), held in Semarang from September 1–6. To qualify for the high school Men’s 54kg Bantamweight division, the 17-year-old Kudus boxer had to shed eight kilograms, dropping from 62kg to 54kg before the tournament began.
Having navigated three preliminary matches, Faisal entered the final bout at GOR Jatidiri in Semarang feeling the physical toll, with only one final opponent from Pati Regency standing between him and the gold medal.
The final match was tightly contested. Faisal ultimately claimed a narrow 3-2 victory, improving upon his previous bronze medal finish at the POPDA competition.
Long before stepping into the ring, Faisal faced a battle with his own weight. He had to cut eight kilograms from his 62kg frame to meet the requirements for his weight class.
He achieved this goal through a rigorous training regimen and a strict diet. For Faisal, reaching 54kg was a pivotal part of his POPDA preparation.
"I am grateful and happy. The hard work of cutting so much weight paid off with a satisfying result. I went from 62kg down to 54kg," he said.
Once the weight was met, his training intensity remained high. In the lead-up to the event, Faisal trained three times a day—morning, noon, and afternoon—followed by evening gym sessions for conditioning.
This routine was maintained six days a week. Faisal typically began training at 6:30 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. before attending school at 9:00 a.m. Following his classes, he returned to physical training.
As a 12th-grade student at SMA 2 Bae Kudus, Faisal had to balance his academic commitments with his boxing career, a demanding schedule that defined his daily life leading up to the competition.
The rigorous training regimen was put to the test over four days of competition in Semarang, where Faisal had to overcome three opponents to secure a shot at the gold medal.
In the preliminary rounds, he defeated a boxer from Purbalingga to advance to the quarterfinals, where he overcame a representative from Kebumen. After that win, Faisal faced an athlete from Sragen in the semifinals.
Three consecutive matches began to take their toll. By the time he reached the final against a boxer from Pati Regency, Faisal was no longer in the physical condition he had been in on the opening day.
"After four days of fighting, my body was worn out and exhausted, but I had to push through during that final match," Faisal said during training at SMA NU Hasyim Asy’ari Kudus on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).
Under these conditions, Faisal could not rely on strength alone. His coach, Suwono, instructed him to adopt a more tactical approach, maintaining distance through an out-boxer style. A 1-2 punch combination became one of his primary weapons against his opponent.
The bout remained tightly contested until the final decision was rendered. A 3-2 scorecard confirmed Faisal as the champion of the Men’s Bantam 54-kilogram high school category.
Boxing was not a sport Faisal originally planned to pursue. His interest only emerged during his ninth-grade year at SMP 1 Kaliwungu, where he saw boxing as a less crowded field that offered a clear opportunity to achieve success.
He subsequently enrolled in boxing training. Beyond his desire for athletic success, Faisal had another goal: using sports achievement certificates to help secure admission to high school through academic tracks for athletes.
This effort eventually led him to a public school with a dedicated sports program that supports students training as athletes. This schedule allowed Faisal to continue training in the mornings before attending class.
He later joined Pertina Kudus, where he learned boxing techniques and began entering tournaments. Each ring experience helped him gain valuable competitive insight.
One such competition was the Central Java POPDA. In a previous appearance, Faisal had to settle for a bronze medal, but that experience proved crucial when he returned to the same competition in 2026.
For Faisal, athletic achievement is also tied to his future educational plans. He hopes to pursue a university degree via an athletic scholarship to help ease his parents' financial burden.
That aspiration drives Faisal to look beyond a single medal. He remains committed to refining his skills in the ring while continuing to prioritize his education.
Pertina Kudus coach, Suwono, noted that Faisal possesses the physical foundation, discipline, and courage necessary to develop as a boxer. His competition experience has also better prepared him to face future opponents.
"Faisal is diligent, maintains his physical conditioning, and has a fearless demeanor developed through his experience. He is aggressive in the ring. After finishing third last year, he set his sights on taking the top spot this year, and he has now achieved that goal," Suwono said.
His ambition to improve on previous results has paid off. Having once earned bronze, Faisal has now climbed to the top of the podium to claim gold.
Outside of his rigorous training schedule, Faisal’s life is not entirely defined by boxing. He enjoys soccer as a hobby and, when he isn't training, he often spends his free time jogging around the Oasis area.
As for socializing, Faisal noted that he rarely hangs out with friends. When he does, he typically opts for local coffee shops or simple roadside stalls. His go-to meal, he added, is fried rice.
This simple daily routine represents Faisal's life beyond the ring. On one hand, he manages a demanding schedule as a student and athlete, while on the other, he maintains the interests and activities of an average teenager.
Away from the ring, Faisal was raised in a modest family in Gribig Village, Gebog District, Kudus Regency. He is the youngest of three children born to Mukorobbin (52) and Asmiah (50).
His father works as a manual laborer at a building supply store in the Kaliwungu district, while his mother works as a factory employee at PT Djarum Kudus.
With both parents working, Faisal learned to manage his own time, balancing schooling and training. For Mukorobbin, his son's athletic pursuits should never come at the expense of his education.
"Faisal is truly independent and able to manage his school and training schedule himself. Because we both work, I always remind him not to fall behind in his studies and to keep chasing his achievements," said Mukorobbin.
Faisal’s decision to pursue boxing initially caused some concern for Mukorobbin, who understood the physical demands and the inherent risks of facing opponents in the ring.
However, those concerns slowly faded as Faisal showed progress. Training instilled greater discipline in his daily life, while he remained committed to his studies.
Mukorobbin and Asmiah continued to support Faisal in pursuing his path. Despite their busy work schedules, Faisal balanced his routine as a student and athlete, managing his time between school, training, and competitions.
The gold medal at the 2026 Central Java POPDA marks a significant milestone in Faisal’s boxing journey. Having succeeded at the student level, he now has his sights set on reaching new heights.
Faisal hopes to represent Central Java at the National Student Sports Week (POPNAS) and compete in the Provincial Sports Week (Porprov). In the long term, he aspires to pursue a professional boxing career.
Education remains a priority. After graduating from high school, Faisal plans to study sports science at the university level while continuing his athletic career.
These objectives are integrated into the routine he has established as both a student and a boxer. School and training remain central to his daily life as he prepares for upcoming matches.
For Faisal, the POPDA gold medal is not the end of his journey. From the classroom to the gym, he continues to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in the ring. (JMY/mainkekudus)
