UPN "Veteran" Jakarta (UPNVJ) Pencak Silat athletes managed to win a gold medal at the 2023 National Pencak Silat Cup Kemenpora Cilacap Championship I 2023 on November 3-5 in Cilacap, Central Java.
Liosantra Oskar, a student of the Political Science Department, received one gold piece in the Men's Class F Silat Fighting Category, weighing 70-75 Kg.
The gold medal presented by Liosantra was very special because it was obtained with a feeling of emotion and heroism. As well as being the gold piece that led UPNVJ to the highest podium at the closing event of the championship.
Liosantra, a young man born in Cilegon, Banten, 26 April 2003, has been practicing pencak silat since childhood and is currently part of the Pencak Silat Pencak Silat College Setia Hati Terate (PSHT) and has also joined the Jakarta "Veteran" Pencak Silat Student Activity Unit (UKM) ( PSVJ) since 2022.
Behind his success in winning gold in the Kemenpora Cup championship, there was a touching and heroic incident. The reason is that when competing in the semifinals against soldiers who were a contingent from Infantry Battalion 405/Surya Kusuma Tegal, he suffered an injury to his mouth which was bleeding quite a lot. Even though he was injured, Liosantra managed to beat his opponent with a narrow score of 20-19.
After the semifinal match ended, Liosantra immediately received first aid from the medical team in the form of an initial examination and an ice pack. Seeing this condition, the coach and the UPNVJ contingent leader discussed and decided that Liosantra was not recommended to continue the final match because the injury he suffered was quite serious and it was feared that it could be life threatening if he continued to compete in the final round.
When the coach conveyed the decision, Liosantra refused and still wanted to compete in the final round.
"I'm still strong, if I withdraw here I will only get a silver medal. "I want to continue playing in the final to get a gold medal. I want UPNVJ to be the first overall champion," said Liosantara in front of his coach and friends.
His ambition made the coach and his friends emotional when they saw such great fighting spirit, so the coach again allowed Liosantra to take part in the match.
Even though they are worried, the coach and his friends are optimistic about Liosantra's abilities and strength. Unexpectedly, Liosantra succeeded in proving that his score continued to increase and outperformed his opponent from the Pencak Silat contingent at Harapan Bangsa University, Purwokerto.
With persistent struggle, at the end of the match Liosantara succeeded in overthrowing his opponent with a perfect score of 14-0.
After the match ended, Liosantar fainted and after being treated by a doctor, Liosantra suffered an injury in the form of a tear in the lower front gum and received 9 stitches.
Liosantara's persistence in the final gave good results by winning a gold medal and becoming the eleventh gold medal for the UPNVJ contingent.
The Chair of the UPNVJ Contingent, Edo Janfien, appreciated Liosantara's achievements which were achieved with great emotion and struggle.
"There is such great appreciation for Liosantra, even though he is seriously injured, he is still enthusiastic about competing and presenting his eleventh gold medal," said Edo.
Meanwhile, Liosantra was satisfied with the results he got. Even though he endured pain during the match, it paid off with the gold medal he got.
“I'm proud of myself, when I was injured I was sure I could do it. "Thank God, I dedicate this gold medal to the UPNVJ Pencak Silat UKM," he said.