Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – Successfully becoming the best in the National Sports Competition (KOSN) championship at the Malang City Junior High School level, Afkar Duwera Rizky Gyza is ready to compete at the East Java Provincial level. Armed with experience appearing in various national and international championships, this INKAI Malang City karate athlete is optimistic that he can be the best.
Afkar Duwera Rizky Gyza said that after being successful at the Malang City level, he wanted to be the best at the provincial level. Where the virtual KOSN SMP karate championship at the provincial level will take place on July 15, 2021.
"The video recording of my performance will be done on Monday, July 12, 2021, for the material to participate in the provincial level. I am optimistic that I can be the best," explained Afkar when invited by the Mayor of Malang Drs. H. Sutiaji in his office at the Malang City Hall, Friday (9/7/2021).
Afkar's optimism that he can be the best does not seem too excessive considering the many achievements of this seventh grade student of SMPN 8 Malang. The reason is that in addition to having often won championships in various competitions, the son of the Head of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) of Malang City, Sugiarto Kasmuri, has also won championships in international events in Malaysia. Although still in junior high school, Afkar has also recorded achievements in the world of karate and he has worn a black belt since 2019.
"I have been doing karate since I was in grade 1 in Bandung. This is inseparable from hard work and perseverance by continuing to practice and practice," Afkar added.
Afkar admitted that he did not really have the desire to become a karate athlete, because karate requires hard training to form a prime physique. However, thanks to the encouragement of his grandfather (Surya Buhanudin) he changed his mind and always trained with enthusiasm.
The experience of training abroad when his father worked in Sydney, Australia made Afkar even more enthusiastic about pursuing the world of karate. So it is not surprising that since the age of eight, the first child of two siblings has succeeded in achieving achievements.
He started winning since he was nine years old, when he won 3rd place in Kumite at the INKAI Championship in Jakarta. Then he won 2018rd place in the INKAI Jakarta Provincial Championship, 2019rd place in Kumite at the XNUMX INKAI National Championship in Banjarmasin, and XNUMXst place in the Kata Team at the XNUMX INKAI Provincial Championship.
"At the age of 10, I appeared in an international championship in Malaysia by winning a gold medal as the champion of the 2018 Milo Malaysia International Open Karate Championship. Then I won another gold medal in February 2019 as the Kumite champion at the Silent Knight Malaysia International Open Karate Championship Kuala Lumpur," said the student of SMP Negeri 8 Malang.
This achievement continued in July 2019 for the third time competing abroad, Afkar won a gold medal as the kumite champion at the 2019 Milo Malaysia International Open Karate Championship. At the age of 11, Afkar succeeded in achieving his dream of getting a black belt in karate as a DAN 1 INKAI holder and at the same time winning the title as the best male DAN 1 exam participant.
As an appreciation for his success, Malang Mayor Sutiaji specifically invited Afkar to come to the Malang Mayor's office at Malang City Hall. (cah/ram)
