Failure is not the end of everything. This principle is deeply held by Ina Winata Kusuma Hasibuan, who previously failed to win a medal in lawn tennis at the 2023 Student Sports and Arts Week (PORSENIGAMA). Through her unwavering determination, the Economics student batch 2022 at the Faculty of Economics and Business UGM successfully contributed a gold and a bronze medal to the FEB UGM.
Ina and Faizah Maulina Anjani (Economics 2022) won the gold medal in the women’s doubles category and the bronze medal in the women’s singles category.
“I didn’t make it last year, which motivated me to make up for it in this competition. This year, it’s finally paid off with two medals for FEB,” she said enthusiastically.
Ina’s journey into lawn tennis began in primary school with her father’s encouragement. Joining a tennis club, Ina honed her skills in various tournaments and represented the city of Depok in regional and provincial sporting events such as POPWILDA (Regional Student Sports Week) and PORPROV (Provincial Sports Week). This journey eventually led her to UGM through the PBUB (Selection for Outstanding Talent) admission route, where she continued her passion for tennis by joining UGM’s Lawn Tennis Student Activity Unit.
“I also enrolled at UGM through the PBUB Lawn Tennis entrance route. After becoming a student, I joined the Lawn Tennis Student Unit and represented UGM in tennis tournaments,” she said emotionally.
Ina prepared for Porsenigama by training, developing strategies, and building confidence to stay focused and enjoy the game. “My strategy was to return as many of my opponent’s balls as possible to minimize the risk of losing points. If possible, I would take all the balls directed to my partner. I also tried to target the opponents who could not return the ball,” she explained.
Throughout her journey to victory in Porsenigama, Ina faced several challenges during training and matches. The biggest challenge was convincing her doubles partner to be more confident and train independently to improve her serve and returns. Another obstacle was the need for joint training sessions, as Ina was busy with a tennis tournament in Surabaya.
She also had to face strong opponents. “Our toughest competitors were from the Faculty of Psychology and Law. They were hard to beat because we’re all experienced athletes who are used to tournaments,” said Ina.
During the matches, she focused on staying calm and enjoying the game, even under pressure. Ina also motivated her partner by instilling confidence in her ability to win. This mental approach proved effective as Ina and her partner remained calm and focused at critical moments.
Ina said that the support of her coach, family, and friends significantly impacted her performance and success. She revealed that her father supported her non-academic pursuits while her friends constantly reminded her to play tennis.
Ina emphasized how non-academic activities helped her academic and social development. “For me, tennis serves as a form of healing from academic routines and a medium for building relationships,” she said.
Ina demonstrated excellent time management skills in managing her time and balancing her studies, training, and competitions. She prioritized her morning classes to avoid clashing with her afternoon training sessions. She also completed her assignments early so they did not interfere with her sporting activities.
Ina advises other students who want to participate in extra-curricular activities without compromising their academic performance. “You have to manage your time wisely. Try not to do assignments close to the deadline. Finish them early so you can spend the rest of your time on other activities,” she concluded.
Reportage: Shofi Hawa Anjani
Editor: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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