Amid Indonesia’s drought of athletics achievements, the success of 18-year-old sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri is an oasis of national pride. The athlete from West Nusa Tenggara, made history as the first Indonesian sprinter to win gold at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships in Finland.
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ANTARA FOTO/REUTERS/LEHTIKUVA
Indonesian sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri expresses his joy after winning the gold medal on Wednesday (11/7/2018) in the men’s 100-meter final at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Amid Indonesia’s drought of athletics achievements, the success of 18-year-old sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri is an oasis of national pride. The athlete from Karang Pansor in West Pemenang, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, made history on early Thursday (12/7/2018, Jakarta time) as the first Indonesian sprinter to win gold in the men’s 100 meters at the 2018 IAAF World U20 Championships in Athletics in Tampere, Finland.
Starting in Lane 8 in the final at Tampere’s Ratina Stadium, Lalu competed with seven junior world champions, including two American sprinters. He finished first with 10.18 seconds, only 0.01 second behind the national record of 10.17 seconds that Suryo Agung Wibowo made at the 2009 SEA Games.
Lalu’s gold went viral on social media, with many Indonesians congratulating the young sprinter, including President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
Suryo Agung said he was happy for Lalu, and that Lalu’s success should boost the self-confidence of all Indonesians across all sports. “The world often underestimates Indonesia’s athletics achievements. Indonesians’ interest in athletics may also increase, as we have proven ourselves with an achievement at a global level,” he said.
Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) chairman Bob Hasan said that Lalu was one of 100 junior athletes at Pelatnas, the National Sports Training Camp. Lalu’s achievement had exceeded everyone’s expectations, including his team coach.
“Considering his opponents’ records, we did not expect Lalu to win. I only hoped he would reach the final and finish third at best,” said Eni Nuraeni, the head coach of short-distance sprinting.
GETTY IMAGE/IAAF/STEPHEN POND
Indonesian sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri winning the gold medal on Wednesday (11/7/2018) in the men’s 100-meter final at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland. Zohri took the gold with the fastest time of 10.18 seconds, followed by US runners Anthony Schwartz (10.22 seconds) and Eric Harrison (10.22 seconds). In the 32-year history of the IAAF World U20 Championships, the best performance by an Indonesian athlete in the 100 m heats was an 8th-place finish in 1986.
Lalu made it to the World U20 Championships after clinching gold at the 2018 Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Gifu, Japan, where he finished with 10.27 seconds. This was well over the world championships’ qualifying time of 10.55 seconds.
Lalu started well in the Tampere final. He maintained his speed and got ahead of his opponents in the final 20 meters to beat two American sprinters, Anthony Schwartz and Eric Harrison, both of whom finished with 10.22 seconds. Schwartz holds this year’s U20 sprinting record of 10.09 seconds.
After he was declared the champion, Lalu knelt in gratitude on the track. He then went to find a Red-and-White flag to celebrate his victory and to take a picture with Schwartz and Harrison.
After the race, Lalu said he had never dreamed of making history. “It has been extraordinary. I am extremely proud. This is great for my career. I am now preparing for the Asian Games next month,” said Lalu.
Lalu is one of three Indonesian junior athletes that qualified to compete in the World U20 Championships. However, pole vaulter Idan Fauzan had was unable to depart for the event, as he had difficulties transporting his pole, and was thus unable to join the championships. Hurdler Halomoan Edwin Binsar, who competed in the men’s 110 meters, was eliminated in the qualifying round.
In Finland, Lalu and Halomoan, who were accompanied by their two coaches, had difficulties eating the local food, so the Indonesian Embassy in Helsinki helped by providing Indonesian meals for them.
GETTY IMAGES FOR IAAF/CHARLIE CROWHURST
Indonesia’s Lalu Muhammad Zohri kneels in prayer on the track after winning the gold medal in the men\'s 100-meter final on July 11, day two of the IAAF World U20 Championships 2018 in Tampere, Finland.
Diligent practice
PASI secretary-general Tigor Tanjung said that Lalu’s achievement was inseparable from his diligence at practice. He continuously improved his running technique based on inputs from world top runner Harry Marra, whom PASI had invited to train him. “Like Harry said, there is no magic in athletics. All athletes have to recognize that it is their technique that will make them champions. This is what Lalu adheres to,” said Tigor.
Among the critical improvements Lalu made was his starting technique. Eni said that, when he first joined the Pelatnas, Lalu was having difficulties, as he was not familiar with using a starting block. However, Lalu was persistent in improving himself. “He always asked if his techniques were perfect,” Eni recalled.
The youngest of four children, Lalu grew up in a modest environment. After his parents died, Lalu continued to live with his brother Baiq Fazilah in their parents’ house, which often leaks when it rains.
His running talent was first noticed when he was in elementary school. He began developing his talent under his middle school gym teacher, Rosida. Lalu, who once dreamed of becoming a soccer player, switched to athletics. After winning several local competitions, he joined the West Nusa Tenggara student sports training center (PPLP). He was asked to join the national training camp after winning the National Inter-PPLP Athletics Championships in 2017.
West Nusa Tenggara Governor TGH Muhammad Zainul Majdi said that he was not surprised by Lalu’s achievements, because Lalu was known for his dedication. “We are not surprised, as this is the fruit of his hard work all this time,” he said.
Despite Lalu’s great achievement, Suryo said that the public should not shower him with too much praise. “Lalu is only 18 years old. He can develop his skills even further. Sprinters usually reach their peak at 25. Let Lalu develop properly, like other athletes his age. We should not weigh him down with too much pressure,” he said. According to Suryo, it was important that everyone made an effort to ensure that athletes could reach their peak performance and maintain it.
Bob Hasan shared Suryo’s sentiments, saying that Lalu still had his whole life ahead of him and that excessive praise might lead young athletes to complacency.
