Indonesian martial arts star dies at 19 following middle-finger injury

Indonesian pencak silat star Ayudiah Rivana Tridiandinita has died at the age of 19, just hours after undergoing minor surgery for an injury to her middle finger.

Her sudden passing shocked the regional sports community, prompting local police to launch an investigation.

According to Detik, Ayudiah passed away on Oct. 28 at Primaya Hospital in Semarang, Indonesia. She had been admitted to the facility to receive treatment for an injury sustained while competing at the 2026 Central Java Provincial Sports Games (Porprov Jateng XVII).

The initial incident occurred on Oct. 26 during a quarter-final match in the women's 45–50kg category. Representing the city of Semarang against an opponent from Batang Regency, Ayudiah attempted to block a heavy kick with her hand, resulting in an injury to her middle finger.

The referee immediately halted the match so medical personnel could provide first aid.

While her coach, Nurfaqih, indicated that the finger had dislocated and initial X-rays showed no signs of a fracture, representatives from the hospital and organizers later described the injury as a broken middle finger.

Ayudiah was transferred to Primaya Hospital near the competition venue, where doctors determined that surgery was necessary. The procedure was performed around 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

According to hospital director Dr. Aditya Nugraha, the operation was not considered a major surgery. The procedure proceeded smoothly, and the athlete was fully conscious before being moved to her recovery room, Antara reported.

Around 7:30 p.m., her family informed the coaching staff that the operation had been completed without any complications. Medical staff administered medication at 11 p.m., and she was recorded sleeping and breathing normally at 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

However, when hospital staff arrived to wake her around 5:30 a.m., she was found completely unconscious with no heartbeat and no signs of breathing.

As of Thursday, the Semarang police confirmed they are working closely with doctors at Primaya Hospital to clarify the exact cause of her death.

Ayudiah's family has declined to authorize an autopsy. Police are focusing on gathering information from the medical team and reviewing her hospital treatment records.

The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI) in Central Java announced its support for the investigation and affirmed full cooperation.

Ayudiah trained at the Naga Hitam Indonesia martial arts academy in Semarang. She attended a vocational high school and achieved great success throughout the youth pencak silat circuit.

In 2023, she won the Bandung Lautan Api International Championship. She also captured the Tugu Muda Championship title between 2022 and 2024, the Semarang Open in 2023 and 2024, and numerous other regional tournament titles. Last year, she won a national-level championship in the women's Class A sparring event.

This is the second athlete death at the 2026 Central Java Provincial Sports Games. Syabilla Rizkia Putri Raharja, a diving athlete from Jepara Regency, died while participating in an event on Oct. 25.

Voice of Indonesia reported that Syabilla was exhausted and drowned, according to the organizing committee and the medical team.