UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta has once again added to its medal tally at PORSI JAWARA II. This time, a silver medal was earned in the English Debate branch after a pair of UIN Sunan Kalijaga students made it through to the final round on Friday (9/11/2026) at UIN K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) Pekalongan.
The medal was won by Radhwa Tsabita Al-Khair, a student in the Constitutional Law Study Program, Faculty of Sharia and Law, together with Ahmad Jundi Ulya, a student in the English Literature Study Program, Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences.
For the pair, the journey to the final was not solely about winning. The debate arena became a space to test sharpness of thought, the ability to construct arguments, and the ability to maintain coordination amid a fast-moving competitive situation.
Each motion presented an issue requiring participants to quickly read the topic and settle on the right stance. Throughout the process, Ulya and Radhwa continuously adjusted their strategy and maintained communication to keep their arguments moving in the same direction.
Ulya admitted there were several moments in the matches that required the two of them to quickly regroup and realign their line of argument. Still, their cohesion as a debate pair carried them through until they secured their spot in the final round.
“Alhamdulillah, thanks to the support of my partner, Kak Awa, we managed to stay coordinated and kept moving forward until we won the silver medal,” Ulya said.
For Ulya, reaching the final was also an answer to the long journey he had gone through across various competitions. Before PORSI JAWARA II, he said, he had competed several times and had to accept results that fell short of his hopes.
For that reason, this silver medal carries a special meaning. Not simply because of the result on the podium, but because it came after a series of experiences that shaped his perseverance and courage to try again.
“We're very happy and very grateful. At first, we also had fears and worries about whether we could finish the match well and win a medal,” he said.
For Ulya, the victory felt like an answer to struggles and dreams that had once been put on hold. Although it wasn't a gold medal, he chose to view the result with gratitude.
“This win means so much to me. I see it as God's answer to all the struggles and delayed dreams,” he said.
Competing against participants from various universities also gave them a new kind of experience. Every participant brought different ideas, perspectives, and ways of constructing arguments.
“The deeper you dive into the ocean, the more you realize just how vast it is. We met amazing people, with incredible ideas and arguments,” Ulya said.
From that experience, the pair took home more than just a medal; they also gained a deeper understanding of areas they can still continue to develop. For them, the competition became an opportunity to measure their abilities while also discovering new space to grow.
The two also did not go through this journey alone. Support from the UIN Sunan Kalijaga community was present throughout their participation in PORSI JAWARA II.
Ulya noted that this support came from lecturers, staff, officials, and fellow members of the UIN Sunan Kalijaga contingent.
For competitors facing the pressure of a match, that support became a source of energy in itself. Even a simple cheer from fellow contingent members near the arena was enough to give them the confidence that the fight was being shared.
“When we came out, we heard our friends shouting, 'You've got this, you can do it.' That gave us extra strength. We felt like we weren't alone. There were prayers carried in every step we took,” he said.
The achievement of Radhwa and Ulya shows how competition can become part of the process of student development. Debate brings together academic ability with the courage to voice ideas, critical thinking skills, teamwork, and resilience in facing the dynamics of competition.
The silver medal they earned, in the end, is more than just a number added to UIN Sunan Kalijaga's medal count. Behind that silver shine lies the courage to try again, the ability to keep moving forward even when the match demands adjustment, and the valuable experience of encountering new ideas.
PORSI JAWARA II brought Radhwa and Ulya to the podium. But it was the journey toward that podium that gave them something even more lasting, the understanding that every competition can be a space to test one's abilities, broaden one's perspective, and find new reasons to keep learning. (humassk)