Multiple Battles for a Mission

KOMPAS/DOKUMENTASI NOC INDONESIA

Indonesian table tennis athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in class TT10 or C10 individuals of the Komet Akbar while undergoing routine training. After twice failing to appear at the Paralympics, Comet was finally able to perform at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Indonesian athletes with a disability faced various uncertainties before competing in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Health, weather, and classification protocols could prevent them from competing.

An aura of happiness was shown by Indonesian disabled table tennis player, Komet Akbar, 35, in his debut at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic. After waiting for a decade, on Wednesday (25/8/2021), Komet was finally able to reach the highest stage he had long dreamed of.

The TT10 class athlete (lightest hand disability) really enjoyed the group stage match against the first-seeded Patryk Chojnowski of Poland. Komet fought bravely, but unfortunately, he finally lost to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro silver medalist, 0-3 (5-11, 7-11, 6.11).

"I was very confident. However, his ball quality was better. This loss further motivated me. If I can compete with the first-seeded player, I should be better with others," said Komet, who felt the difference in the atmosphere of the Paralympics compared to other events.

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Regardless of the results, Komet was grateful that the worries of the past week were over. Since arriving at the hotel on 17 August, Komet has been wary of the mandatory COVID-19 tests, which are taken every day. He and other Paralympic athletes are required to undergo a swab test in the morning and get the results in the afternoon.

“I am really worried because I have to test every day and wait for the results. Because it [COVID-19], cannot be seen, right? We can only take care of ourselves while praying we will not test positive," said the men\'s double gold winner at the 2018 Asian Para Games.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

The Indonesian Paralympic badminton mixed doubles pair, Hary Susanto (right) and Oktila Leani won the 2018 SL3-SU5 mixed doubles gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, Saturday (13/10/2018).

It\'s quite natural for Komet to be worried. A positive test result could thwart his dreams of appearing for the first time in the Paralympics. He has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time after going through a number of failures in the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Realizing that it was like fighting an invisible enemy, Komet did everything possible to avoid being exposed to COVID-19. He restricted his activities while at the hotel. The 2019 Asian champion also consumed honey and prepared mouth rinses as a precaution.

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The problem is that maintaining one’s health in a foreign land is not as easy as imagined. A number of Indonesian athletes have had difficulty adapting to the weather in Japan, which is just about to enter the summer season.

The challenge to adapt to the weather was also felt by Hary Susanto, 46, a Paralympic badminton player in the SL 4 class (mild leg disability), who underwent his final preparations in the city of Machida. Hary said the weather was so hot and it affected his preparations.

“When practicing, we got tired quickly because yesterday, we were still adjusting. But it\'s starting to feel good again now. Maybe our body was adapting yesterday," said the 2018 Asian Paragames gold winner.

Classification dispute

KOMPAS/ERWIN EDHI PRASETYA

Karisma Evi Tiarani

In addition to health protocols and weather conditions, additional problems were experienced by some athletes. One of them was Karisma Evi Tiarani, 20, a women\'s sprinter in the 100 meter T42 class event.

Evi had to undergo reclassification in Tokyo. The initial result of the reclassification was not in her favor. The committee suggested that Evi move to the T44 class. If she changed her class, her chances of winning gold decreases drastically because she would have to compete against athletes with lighter disabilities.

The T42 is the classification of athletes with single above-the-knee amputations or a disability that is comparable, while the T44 is for athletes with a single below-the-knee amputation or its equivalent.

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> A Long Road to Olympic Gold

The reclassification result was protested by the deputy to the secretary-general of the Indonesian National Paralympic Committee (NPC), Rima Ferdianto. The change in the classification was eventually canceled after another review. After a detailed check, Evi was finally allowed to stay in her usual class.

“It\'s a relief," Rima said.

The most worrying thing is that these various obstacles will have an impact on the mentality of the athletes. However, Paralympic athletics head coach Slamet Widodo said he was not worried, adding that the athletes were well-prepared.

All of these obstacles may add to the athletes\' efforts to win a medal. However, all of these challenges are commensurate with their mission to fight the stigma against people with disabilities. They can all make Indonesia proud.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.