General Maruli hopes that the 2026 Kasad Judo Cup will produce tough and character national athletes

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Army (Kasad) General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak M.Sc., hopes that the 2026 Kasad Cup XVI National Judo Championship will be the starting point for the birth of strong and character athletes who will make Indonesia proud.

This was said by General Maruli, who also served as the General Chairman of the Indonesian Judo Association (PB PJSI) at the closing of the 2026 Kasad Judo Cup XVI National Games held at the Kartika GOR, Kostrad Infantry Division Headquarters, Cilodong, Depok on June 25-28, 2026.

"I hope this Kejurnas will be an important foothold for the birth of strong, character-based national Judo athletes and able to make Indonesia proud in various championship events," said General Maruli, Sunday (28/6) evening.

General Maruli said that the Kasad Cup National Games was not "a competition event to win medals or titles. More than that, this championship is a training, measurement of ability as well as a means of producing the best Judo athletes who are expected to be able to make the name of the region, unit, Indonesia at the national and international levels. "

On this occasion, Kasad General Maruli gave appreciation and appreciation to all parties who had made this Kejurnas a success, especially to the athletes who "have shown the best ability, dedication, discipline, courage, and fighting spirit during the match."

"You have shown that Judo is not only about physicality, but also about self-control, mental toughness, respect and sportsmanship," said Kasad.

Seeing the great potential of athletes in the four-day match, General Maruli hopes that those who have achieved success will not be complacent, while those who have not succeeded will not be discouraged.

"For athletes who have achieved achievements, make this victory as motivation to continue to train more actively, maintain discipline and improve their ability to be able to achieve higher achievements in the future," said Kasad General Maruli.

"Don't feel satisfied quickly, because a true champion is the one who continues to learn, improve, and improve themselves," emphasized the PB PJSI chairman.

"For athletes who have not won the championship, don't be discouraged. Defeat is not the end of the struggle, but part of the learning process and mental formation, make this experience as an evaluation to rise stronger, more prepared and more confident in the next opportunity," he concluded.

Kasad added that victory and defeat are common in sports matches.

"The courage to compete, the ability to respect the opponent, and the determination to continue to improve are noble values that every athlete must always maintain," concluded Kasad.

Out as the overall champion and the most gold medal winner for the Cadet, Junior and Senior categories of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Committee, followed by West Java and Bali.

Meanwhile, for the overall champion and the most gold medal winner in the TNI-Polri category, namely the Bali Police, followed by Paspampres and Kopassus.

For individual achievements, they came out as the best Cadet male judoka, namely Rafka Adita from the South Sumatra Provincial Office of the Indonesian Judo Association, and Dhanya Ghyin Juanda from the DKI Jakarta Provincial Office for Cadet girls.

In the Junior category, Daud Verdinand Pelupessy from the East Java Provincial Office of the Indonesian National Student Association (PJSI) came out as the best in the boys' group, as well as Ni Komang Ayu Tri Lestari from the Bali Provincial Office of the Indonesian National Student Association (PJSI) in the girls' group.

Meanwhile, in the Senior category, Muh. Rizqi Maula from the West Java Provincial Office of the Indonesian National Student Association (PMKPI) was the best in the men's category, and the women's category was won by the PMKPI of the University of Indonesia (UI).

And in the TNI-Polri category, Serka Made Agus Yoga from Kodam III Siliwangi and Serka (K) Vika Irma Safitri from Paspampres came out as the best in the male and female groups.