EduAsiaNews, Yogyakarta – Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta once again held the 12th Rector’s Cup Team Tennis Championship as an event aimed at strengthening camaraderie while promoting a healthy lifestyle within the community. The championship took place at the Vocational Faculty Sports Hall of UNY Wates and the Wates Town Square Tennis Court on Saturday, 9 May 2026.
The tournament was participated in by 59 tennis players representing five tennis clubs across Kulon Progo Regency, namely the Persatuan Olahraga Polri (POP), Wates Fun Tennis, Kementerian Agama Kabupaten Kulon Progo, Dinas Pendidikan Pemuda dan Olahraga Kulon Progo, as well as one team from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta as the host. The participation of athletes from various communities made the competition not only a contest for championship titles, but also a platform to strengthen solidarity among tennis enthusiasts.
Chairperson of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Tri Hadi Karyono, stated that the organization of the Rector UNY Cup reflects UNY’s commitment to encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle within society. In addition, the event also serves as a means of socialization, promotion, and strengthening synergy with the regional government and institutions throughout Kulon Progo.
“Through this championship, we aim to strengthen the bonds among tennis athletes in Kulon Progo while also introducing the Vocational Faculty of UNY to the wider community,” said the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Alumni of the Vocational Faculty of UNY.
In this championship, the organizing committee awarded the permanent Rector of UNY trophy to the winners, along with development prizes amounting to IDR 7.5 million for first place, IDR 5.5 million for second place, and IDR 4 million each for the joint third-place winners.
One of the participants, Sugeng Waluyo from the POP Kulon Progo tennis club, expressed his enthusiasm for participating in the tournament. According to him, the main value of the competition lies not merely in winning, but in the opportunity to foster closer relationships within the Kulon Progo community. “Hopefully, this event can continue to be held annually,” he remarked.
The Rector UNY Cup Team Tennis Championship also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 on Good Health and Well-Being through the promotion of physical activity and sports, as well as SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration between higher education institutions, sports communities, and society. In addition, the event also contributes to SDG 4 on Quality Education by strengthening the role of universities as centers for character development, sportsmanship, and social interaction within the community.
In the final round, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta faced Persatuan Olahraga Polri in an exciting match that ended with a 2–0 victory for UNY, securing the title of Rector UNY Cup 2026 champion. POP claimed second place, while the Ministry of Religious Affairs team and Wates Fun Tennis shared third place honors. The awards were presented directly by the Rector of UNY, Prof. Sumaryanto.
The championship is expected to continue as an annual agenda that will further develop in terms of organizational quality and participant involvement. The event aligns with UNY’s commitment to supporting the development of sports, public health, and stronger social networks through positive and competitive activities.
