Samarinda, December 3, 2024 - The SMK Medika Samarinda futsal squad of East Kalimantan showed their outstanding talent by winning the AXIS Nation Cup (ANC) 2024. The squad dominated the national futsal tournament, which included high schools and vocational schools from all around Indonesia, from the regional qualifiers to the final, which took place in mid-November at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta. In the grand final, SMK Medika Samarinda defeated SMK Jakarta Barat 1 in a penalty shootout to secure the national championship.
Sarroso Dwi Panggah, the Caretaker of XL Axiata's Kalimantan Area, expressed his pride "We are really delighted that one of our East Kalimantan teams has earned national victories. This achievement demonstrates East Kalimantan's youth's tremendous athletic potential. The AXIS Nation Cup demonstrates our commitment to youth development by providing them with a platform to realize their goals and continue to improve. We hope that this win motivates other East Kalimantan teams to follow in their footsteps.”
Sarroso added that as first-place winners, SMK Medika Samarinda earned a trophy, medals, and a cash award of IDR 100 million. This achievement is also anticipated to inspire athletes to continue their development and aspire to join the Indonesian national team.
"Becoming the national winner at the AXIS Nation Cup 2024 is a great source of pride for our school. We thank AXIS for offering this valuable chance for kids to demonstrate their abilities on a national scale. This competition has provided us with invaluable experience in developing our potential and pursuing our objectives, both in sports and in everyday life," stated Mus Mulyadi S.Pd, MM, Head of SMK Medika Samarinda.
The team's outstanding performance was obvious in the qualifiers, as they scored a decisive victory in every match before advancing to the final. Despite great opposition from SMK Jakarta Barat 1, with the match ending 1-1, SMK Medika Samarinda eventually triumphed after a penalty shootout, 3-2.
Team captain Muhammad Irfan Hamid expressed gratitude, saying, "This victory is the result of all of our hard work." Our coach, school, and friends have all been extremely supportive. We are happy to have brought the name of SMK Medika Samarinda to national fame."
The AXIS Nation Cup 2024 grand final at Indonesia Arena, GBK, had 19,000 attendees. This highlights XL Axiata's commitment, through its AXIS brand, to consistently serve youth by providing convenience, the finest experiences, and innovations customized to their specific requirements.
The tournament gathered around 1,650 schools and 16,500 athletes from cities across Indonesia, including Samarinda, Balikpapan, Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Makassar, and many. The preliminary rounds attracted over 200,000 spectators from 40 cities, making the AXIS Nation Cup 2024 one of Indonesia's largest futsal competitions.