Djarum Foundation Sports ServiceAnd MilkLife collaborating again with All Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) Kudus Regency to organize MilkLife Athletics Challenge Seri 1 2026 which is taking place on Wednesday (15/7) to Saturday (18/7) at the Supersoccer Arena, Kudus, Central Java. This competition was attended by 2,270 students from 196 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI), Elementary Schools (SD), Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs), Junior High Schools (SMP), Senior High Schools (SMA), Madrasah Aliyah (MA), and Vocational High Schools (SMK) in the Kudus area and its surroundings.
In this year’s event there are five age groups (KU 8, KU 10, KU 12, KU 15 and KU 18) as well as 23 sports events being contested, namely 40 meter running, 60 meter running, 80 meter running, 100 meter running, 400 meter running, 800 meter running, 1000 meter running, 1,500 meter running, walking. 2,000 meter fast, 3,000 meter fast walk, 8 x 50 meter relay race mixed5 x 80 meter relay race, 4 x 100 meter relay race, 4 x 400 meter relay race mixed, Kanga’s Escape, Formula 1, Frog Jump, Turbo ThrowLong Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, Javelin Throw and Discus Throw.
Welly Arisanto as Deputy Program Manager for Djarum Foundation Sports Servicessaid that the addition of age groups in this year’s MilkLife Athletic Challenge aims to expand the chain of athletic regeneration from the grassroots level. This is inseparable from the spirit of the Djarum Foundation’s Sports Service which focuses on early childhood development in various sports.
“By presenting the 8 year old age group in series 1 2026, we want to cut the starting line for coaching so that it is even earlier. In children’s golden age, their motor coordination is developing rapidly. Through the MilkLife Athletics Challenge, we facilitate them to get to know the foundations of athletics in a competitive but still fun way,”he said.
Welly added, not only expanding the age segmentation, innovation was also carried out in the aspect of variations in race numbers which focused more on developing basic talent by including prestigious numbers such as short distance running (sprint) and high jump. Apart from that, there is also a realignment in several heavy race numbers which are no longer contested.
“This year we also refreshed the choice of competition events by inserting variations of the 800 meter run and high jump which are more effective in measuring their basic potential. On the other hand, we chose to be more selective in events that require extreme physical endurance such as the 3,000 meter run, or numbers with a high risk of joint injury in children such as the triple jump. We want participants to focus on athletic events that are adaptive and appropriate to their growth and development, so that the talent search process runs more safely and purposefully,”he continued.
Firdaus, Chair of the All Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) Kudus said that early childhood athletic development in Central Java continues to show promising graphs as the MilkLife Athletics Challenge is regularly held since 2024. An event that combines the concepts of competition and fun gamesThis educational program has proven to be effective in attracting the interest of thousands of students from various school levels. According to him, this championship is no longer just a stage for introducing athletics, but has been transformed into a barn for nurturing potential athletes who are believed to be able to become new pillars of strength who are ready to represent Central Java at prestigious regional and national events.
“The development of the quality of the children from series to series is extraordinary. Regular competitions like this have succeeded in changing the view that athletics is scary, into a fun adventure for school children. The impact is their passion for achieving organically. We are very optimistic that Kudus is in the process of giving birth to a new generation of athletics who are superior and ready to represent Central Java at provincial level events such as Porprov, even at national level such as Popnas. We also hope that next year’s MilkLife Athletics Challenge can be held at provincial level,”he said.
As a form of commitment, structured and continuous further development steps have been prepared so that the great potential of these students can be channeled appropriately towards professional level achievements. “Our task is to ensure that the talents selected from this event receive continuous and centralized further development, as well as continuing to provide competition hours so that their competitive mentality matures before entering official regional and national championships,” added Firdaus.
MTsN 1 Kudus Retains KU 15 General Champion Title
Euphoria of happiness radiated from the representative of MTsN 1 Kudus who was crowned as the General Champion of MilkLife Athletics Challenge Series 1 2026 KU 15. Successfully defending the title won last year, Dimas Maulanaone of the teachers who represented his school expressed his gratitude for the achievements made by his students. Successfully winning seven golds, three silvers and two bronzes, he said that the coaching event for athletics, which was initiated by the Bakti Sport Djarum Foundation, was the right place to hone talents and train discipline, as well as the spirit of sportsmanship in prospective athletes.
“The MilkLife Athletics Challenge is a very extraordinary event, especially since the children apparently have talent in the field of athletics. For this reason, we also provide facilities as much as possible to them in several athletic competition branches with extracurricular activities. Hopefully we can consistently maintain this achievement, even improve it to take part in the birth of athletic sports seeds from Kudus,”he said.
Asa Connector to National Training Center
One of the Kudus athletes who stole the show at the MIlkLife Athletics Challenge Series 1 2026 from KU 18 is Adyatama Fawwaz Oktorazawho successfully occupied the highest podium in the prestigious men’s 400 meter race. The MAN 2 Kudus student also took part as the last runner in his school’s victory in the 4 x 400 relay. mixed. The runner, who also represented Kudus at the Central Java Sports and Arts Week (PORSENI) in 2025, believes that the MilkLIfe Athletics Challenge is an ideal medium for developing skills and increasing flying hours in order to achieve big dreams in athletics.
“This championship is certainly very positive, I see that more and more students are interested in taking part. Meanwhile, for me, this victory is very valuable. For now and in the future, I will focus more on the 400 meters. Hopefully this will also be a way for me to qualify for National Training and hopefully be part of the national athletics team,”he said.
