Yogyakarta, March 30th 2022─Emma Millania Kartini, a student of Gadjah Mada University Communication Studies, is back with a trophy from the “Invitation of Net Game Competition 2022”, a Jogja and Central Java university student level competition which was held by the State University of Yogyakarta. The UGM table tennis athlete and the former leader of UGM Table Tennis Club won first place in the competition that was held on March 26-27th.
“I am very grateful that I still have the opportunity to join this competition in the midst of my final year. This might be the last time that I contribute something to UGM and the Table Tennis club because I plan on graduating this year,” Emma, the batch 2018 student, said.
Emma also said that she prepared for the competition rigorously. Even though she only got less than a week to practice, she pushed herself to practice every day by going from club to club to play.
“It was only playing without physical training, but it made me very tired and my whole body hurt. I never trained like that, but if I want to win, I need to train to the death even though there is a lot I need to sacrifice,” she said.
While she is a university student, Emma won several table tennis championships in groups or individually. Her talent has led her to compete in the International Sports Fiesta in Malaya in 2018 and 2019. The experience left a deep impression on her heart because she could represent UGM in an international competition and got first place.
However, for her, this new achievement also makes her very proud because there is a story behind it. A couple of years ago, when she was a new student at the university, Emma won a table tennis championship at the university level. At that championship, Pak Gagak – a table tennis coach who has now passed away – hoped that one day Emma will be able to win a single women’s championship at the D.I. Yogyakarta level.
“From that moment on, I was motivated to prove myself. I haven’t joined the tennis club yet but Pak Gagak has already passed away. That was the last hope and motivation that Pak Gagak gave to me, that I can do it and I will prove it,” she said.