Three students from Universitas Islam Malang (UNISMA) delivered outstanding performances at the 2025 Pekan Olahraga Provinsi Jawa Timur (East Java Provincial Sports Week). They not only competed but returned home with gold and silver medals—along with inspiring stories of perseverance and dedication.
The accomplished students are M. Ali Khan Ridlo and Muhammad Mahir Qushoyyi from the Faculty of Engineering, and Dicka Yoga Pratama from the Faculty of Agriculture. Ali and Mahir represented Malang City, while Dicka competed for Malang Regency.
Ali Khan Ridlo delivered an exceptional performance in the men’s 88 kg weightlifting category, securing two gold medals and one silver medal. His achievement was the result of a year of intensive training, including twice-daily sessions in the lead-up to the competition.
“Morning training starts at 5:00 a.m. until 7:30 a.m., then I go to class. In the afternoon, I train again from 3:30 p.m. until after Maghrib. I really have to manage my time well,” said Ali, who has been seriously involved in weightlifting since 2019 and began earning medals at the 2022 Porprov.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Mahir Qushoyyi competed in Hapkido, a Korean martial art that was featured for the first time at Porprov, and won a gold medal in the Daeriyun under-78 kg category.
“We trained four times a week at first, but in the last three months it increased to twice a day. Sunday was our only rest day,” Mahir explained. Previously active in pencak silat, he later transitioned to Hapkido. He credited his confidence to rigorous preparation and strong encouragement from his coach. “We believed we would win because our training was tougher than other teams,” he added proudly.
In the men’s outdoor field hockey event, Dicka Yoga Pratama contributed a silver medal for Malang Regency. The Agribusiness student first discovered hockey during vocational high school in Karangploso and has remained committed to the sport ever since. “I started in inter-school competitions. Then my coach encouraged me to level up, and eventually I joined the regency team,” he recalled.
Dicka also shared a dramatic experience from a previous Porprov, where he suffered an injury that still leaves a visible scar today. “My parents initially told me not to compete again, but I chose to continue,” he said.
UNISMA Rector, Prof. Drs. H. Junaidi Mistar, Ph.D., emphasized that these achievements are the result of a structured athlete development system and scholarship support. Students like Ali, who demonstrated strong potential early on, were immediately awarded full scholarships. “Ali is an example of a high-achieving student whose potential we identified from the beginning and fully supported through a scholarship,” Prof. Junaidi explained.
However, he stressed that scholarships are not granted without direction. “This is not support without guidance. We mentor and monitor them closely. Through student activity units and partnerships with regional sports bodies like KONI, we help create competitive opportunities,” he added.
UNISMA also offers similar scholarship opportunities for high-achieving senior high school graduates through both internal campus selection and external collaborations. Around 40 scholarship quotas are available across various fields, including sports, arts, religious activities, and even poetry.
The accomplishments of Ali, Mahir, and Dicka stand as clear evidence of UNISMA’s sustainable athlete development strategy. The university not only produces champion athletes but also ensures they excel academically. “We are extremely proud. This is the result of a shared commitment between the university, the students, and external partners such as KONI. We hope to see even more achievements in the future,” Prof. Junaidi concluded.