Depok-Aliifa Nabila Azzahra, a Physiotherapy study program student, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), successfully brought home three medals as a representative from DKI Jakarta for the rhythmic gymnastics sport at the XXI Aceh-North Sumatra National Sports Week (PON) 2024. Aliifa managed to win a gold medal for the ball apparatus category, silver for the hoop apparatus category, and bronze for the all-around category. The match, which was attended by around twelve provinces, was held at the Disporasu Multipurpose Building on September 3-4, 2024.
Aliifa has been involved in rhythmic gymnastics since she was five years old thanks to her parents’ encouragement. According to her, rhythmic gymnastics looks graceful and like a show, so she was interested in exploring sports with the equipment. PON XXI 2024 is her first PON competition. Aliifa uses all the equipment, from hoops, balls, clubs, and ribbons for the all-around number. In the final round, each person is only allowed to participate in two equipment. So, Aliifa chose the hoop and ball equipment for that round.
“I had the opportunity to represent DKI Jakarta after participating in the Pre-PON in 2023 and two selections between three gymnasts from DKI Jakarta. As a new UI Vocational student, I am more faced with adapting to the environment, such as social life on campus, college assignments, and others. So, I really emphasized time management before participating in this PON so that it would not be messy. In addition, the support from UI Vocational also encouraged me to continue to excel and continue to carry out my obligations as a student,” explained Aliifa.
Director of UI Vocational Education Program, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D, appreciated Aliifa’s achievements. According to him, Aliifa is one of the representatives of Vocational and UI who has succeeded in bringing honor to the alma mater and is a talented new student in the field of sports. “I congratulate Aliifa who has succeeded in winning various medals at PON XXI 2024. We are waiting for other achievements from Aliifa at the national and international levels,” said Padang.
Aliifa has been actively competing in rhythmic gymnastics since she was in elementary school. In fact, Aliifa has represented Indonesia several times in various world rhythmic gymnastics championships. Some of the awards won by Aliifa include 2nd place in AGG – Kusunoki Cup, Friendship Virtual Competition, Japan in 2022; 2nd place in AGG National – Series 2 (Invitational), IFAGG Long Program Women Open, Malaysia in 2022; 2nd place in Team – JRC STARS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022, Thailand in 2022; 1st place in Rhythmic Gymnastics All-Around, POPNAS XVI in 2023; 1st place in Rhythmic Gymnastics Hoop, NATIONAL GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIP SURABAYA in 2023; 1st place in Rhythmic Gymnastics Senior Ribbon, GYMNASTICS JAKARTA OPEN in 2023; and others.
