Rokan Hulu Regency achieved a brilliant milestone in student sports after Azkia Zafeera Arfa, a student at Riadhussholihin Islamic Elementary School, successfully won first place in the girls' pencak silat category at the National Student Sports Olympiad (O2SN) at the Riau Province level. This victory also establishes the young martial artist as the official representative of Riau Province to compete at the national level, which will be held in Jakarta.
Azkia's interest in this ancestral martial art has been nurtured since she was in the second grade of elementary school. For the daughter of Ade Satria, pencak silat is not just a platform for achieving success, but a medium for building a strong character. Her discipline and consistency in training have been tested through various competitions, including when she brought home two gold medals at the Satria Muda Indonesia (SMI) Regional Championship (Kejurda) in 2026.
Azkia expressed that pencak silat has taught her values of responsibility and courage, while also serving as her contribution to preserving the nation's culture. This success was made possible by the intensive guidance of the coaching duo Yusuf Hidayat and July Anggraini, as well as the full support of the school under the leadership of Novri Nadli Fajri, Lc., and the heartfelt blessing of her parents.
Rokan Hulu's achievement is further elevated as Azkia will not be competing alone in Jakarta. Two other talented student athletes, namely Khaidir AjiSaka Sitepu in the Boys' Elementary School category and Jelly Ramadhani in the Girls' Junior High School category, also successfully secured tickets to the final round of the national O2SN. This collective achievement proves the success of the youth athlete development program in the region.
Currently, the three sports ambassadors from Rokan Hulu are undergoing intensive training camps to refine their physical condition, technique, and competitive mental state. The people of Rokan Hulu hold high hopes that the three of them will be able to perform optimally, bring honor to Riau Province on the national stage, and inspire other young generations.
