Anaqi Davala, a student of the Tax Administration Study Program, Vocational Education Program, Universitas Indonesia (UI), and his team will take part in the pre-qualification round for the National Sports Week (PON) XXI 2024 as representatives from Riau Province in August 2023. Anaqi was chosen as the representative for the competition after previously winning a gold medal in the Men’s Team Number and a bronze medal in the Men’s Doubles Number for table tennis at the Riau Provincial Sports Week (PORPROV) X 2022.
The Riau PORPROV X was held on November 12–22, 2022, in Kuantan Singingi, Riau. This competition brought 4,456 athletes into 26 sports with 375 competition numbers. Anaqi managed to outperform eleven other teams in the table tennis championship.
Anaqi said that this victory was achieved thanks to persevering preparation. He did routine training for about a month at the training center in Bengkalis Regency, Riau. “My team and I did training to prepare for this championship to the fullest, knowing this championship will also bring us to take part in the pre-qualification round for the PON XXI 2024,” said Anaqi.
Quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenpora RI), Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora) Zainudin Amali said that the opening of the PON XXI 2024 will take place in Aceh, while the closing will take place in North Sumatra. These two provinces will host the PON XXI 2024, which the President plans to open on September 8, 2024.
Apart from Riau PORPROV X 2022, Anaqi has represented Riau Province several times and won a number of medals in several table tennis championships, such as 3rd place in the Main League Team in Sumatera 2021; 3rd place in U-18 Men’s Single, Pangdam Jaya Cup 2020; 1st place in Men’s General Single, Riau Province Championship 2019; National Student Sports Week (POPNAS) in 2015 and 2017; as well as other championships. For Anaqi, the biggest challenge facing this championship is to give the best performance to the team and maintain the achievements previously attained.
Appreciating Anaqi’s achievements, Director of the Vocational Education Program UI Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D. expressed his pride. “I really appreciate Anaqi’s efforts to bring honor to the alma mater of Universitas Indonesia. I also appreciate Anaqi’s time management in dividing portions between studies and practice. Hopefully, Anaqi’s achievements can encourage other students to make UI proud, both at the national and international levels,” said Padang.
