Indonesian Athlete Dirhamsyah Wins Kempo World Title in Portugal

VIVA – Indonesian kempo athlete Dirhamsyah successfully becomes the world champion at the 19th IKF World Kempo Championships 2023 in Caldas De Rainha City, Portugal, on Saturday after being the best in the -65kg class. 

Dirhamsyah who is also the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) from Southeast Sulawesi Province (Southeast Sulawesi) with the rank of Sertu, in the final match of the full Kempo fighter class was able to defeat the Slovak representative with a score of 4-0. 

In addition, based on an official statement from the Southeast Sulawesi Indonesian Kempo Federation (FKI) received in Kendari, on Sunday, the Babinsa who served at the Kendari 1417 Kodim also won two silver medals in the team synchronic and semi-kempo classes. 

As information, Dirhamsyah is the only athlete sent by the Indonesian Kempo Federation (FKI) Southeast Sulawesi to strengthen the Indonesian National Team to compete in the 19th Kempo world championship. 

He also expressed happiness and pride in the achievements he had made, because he had to go through a hard training camp for a month to defend the national team. 

"Alhamdulillah, I can make Indonesia and especially Southeast Sulawesi proud, it was not in vain that I left my military duties for one month," Dirhamsyah stated. 

He also expressed his gratitude to the coaches at the central and Southeast Sulawesi FKI who have shaped him into an outstanding athlete.

Meanwhile, FKI Sultra Chairman Nasruddin said that the achievement of two gold medals and two silver medals was an extraordinary pride, "This is also the history of FKI Southeast Sulawesi because there has never been an athlete winning four medals at once in the Kempo world championship," Nasruddin said.

Nasruddin hopes this achievement can be contagious and motivate athletes in FKI Southeast Sulawesi so that they will practice hard, and they can be included in the next national and world championships.