A proud achievement was once again marked by a student of the Social Welfare Studies Program (IKS), Faculty of Da’wa and Communication, UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Nabil Khafidz Atsaqafy, a member of the 2024 cohort, won first place in the Open 1 Adult Fighting Class at the International Moslem Pencak Silat Championship, held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Pondok Pesantren Gontor. The competition took place at the Indomilk Indoor Arena, Tangerang, Banten, from September 17–19, 2025.

The tournament featured multiple categories, including fighting, single artistic performance, double artistic performance, and team events. Nabil competed in the fighting category and faced formidable opponents. In the semifinals, he went up against a competitor from Diponegoro University, while in the finals he squared off against a delegation from South Sumatra.

In an interview, Nabil shared his journey filled with challenges. “At first, my weight did not qualify for the fighting class, but with my coach’s encouragement I managed to lose four kilograms in just two days. When we arrived in Tangerang, we trained both mentally and physically every morning and evening. On the day of the match, I felt pale and nervous since this was my first international event, but my coach kept motivating us, and that gave me the strength to perform at my best,” he said.

Nabil went on to reflect on the valuable lessons he gained. “The competition taught me that thorough preparation and teamwork are essential, both inside and outside the arena. Participating in this international event has also boosted my confidence and motivated me to keep sharpening my pencak silat skills,” he added.

Alongside Nabil’s victory, another remarkable achievement came from Herawati, a 2022 cohort student of IKS, who won second place in the Adult Women’s Single Artistic category at the same event.

These accomplishments not only highlight personal triumphs but also bring honor to UIN Sunan Kalijaga on both national and international stages.