Barabai, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A taekwondo athlete from Hulu Sungai Tengah (HST) District, South Kalimantan, Muhammad Firas Caesar Agung Atmaja, won two gold medals and was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 11th Tirak Taekwondo International Tournament 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
"I am very grateful to also receive the Poomsae MVP award," said Caesar in Barabai, HST capital, Tuesday.
Caesar, along with hundreds of athletes from various countries, took part in the tournament took place on July 19–20, 2025.
The seventh grade student at MTsN 2 HST showed his skills by defeating a number of tough opponents from various parts of the world.
Caesar bagged two golds in Poomsae (forms) U-12 and Kyorugi (sparring) 42 kilograms categories.
In Poomsae, Caesar defeated eight competitors from other countries to win a victory and gain MVP honors.
Read also: HST govt protecting toddlers with vitamin A
"While in Kyorugi, I defeat other athletes in the preliminary rounds, until in the final defeating a Filipino taekwondo athlete," he said.
Caesar, who performed consistently in the final, won in two stright rounds, to win another gold for Indonesia.
Caesar acknowledged his interest in taekwondo grew in elementary school and first recognized martial art through extracurricular at SDIT Al Khair Barabai.
"I continue to hone myself and actively train at the Murakata Taekwondo Center in Barabai," he said.
Caesar's achievement was warmly welcomed by family, school, and HST community and is hoped to inspire younger generation to keep on excelling in sports, especially taekwondo.
Chairman of HST National Sports Committee (KONI) Yazid Fahmi highly appreciated Caesar's achievement and called it a source of pride for the regional sports.
However, Yajid reminded not to be complacent with this achievement, remain humble, and continue training and struggling, because initial success does not necessarily guarantee final success.
"I hope this achievement will trigger other athletes in HST and to believe that if you are determined, Insya Allah (God Willing) you can achieve it,” said Yajid.
He also highlighted the important role of Youth and Sport Office (Dispora) and Education Office in fostering youth sports hoping to improve the quality of sports development in HST.
“We hope relevant agencies to pay more attention to training and developing sports infrastructure," Yajid said.
Read also: HST forms six Food Brigades to support the Presiden's Asta Cita program
Read also: HST now malaria-free district
