TULUNGAGUNG – A young taekwondo athlete from Tulungagung is drawing attention after earning a spot at Indonesia’s national taekwondo championship while chasing his dream of competing at the Olympics.
Mahasmara Lituhayu Setyobudi, a 13-year-old athlete from Bago subdistrict in Tulungagung, recently competed in the 2026 National Taekwondo Championship in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. He represented East Java in the Cadet Under-47 kilogram category, marking one of the biggest milestones in his young career.
“I felt very proud because I had the opportunity to represent East Java,” Mahasmara said.
Mahasmara began practicing taekwondo when he was seven years old and still in elementary school. At first, he wanted to learn martial arts for self-defense. Over time, regular training turned into a serious passion and competitive ambition.
His family played a major role in supporting his journey. Coaches and teammates from the South Sky Taekwondo club also encouraged him during training sessions and tournaments.
Despite his growing achievements in sports, balancing school and athletics remains a challenge for the teenager. Training schedules and competitions often force him to miss classes and school assignments.
“The biggest challenge so far is managing time and catching up with school lessons,” he said.
To prepare for the national championship in Samarinda, Mahasmara joined an intensive regional training camp with the East Java Taekwondo Indonesia team. He trained at the Jatim Seger sports facility owned by the East Java Sports Committee.
During the training program, he practiced up to three times a day to improve his physical strength, endurance, and fighting techniques. The demanding schedule tested both his discipline and mental focus.
Even with extensive experience in competitions, Mahasmara admitted he still feels nervous before entering the ring. However, the atmosphere of major tournaments continues to motivate him to keep improving.
The young athlete looks up to international taekwondo stars CJ Nickolas and Lee Dae-hoon. He admires their discipline, consistency, and determination to compete at the highest level.
This year, Mahasmara plans to compete in several regional and national events, including the KSTRIA Nusantara Series, Popda, and the Best of The Best provincial championship.
Looking ahead, he hopes to compete internationally and eventually reach the Olympic Games. He also shared a message for other young athletes who want to follow their dreams.
“Stay focused in training, stay disciplined, evaluate yourself, and never be afraid to fail or dream big,” he said.
Indonesia has continued to produce talented young taekwondo athletes in recent years, with regional competitions becoming an important pathway toward national and international tournaments.