A Series of Inspiration from the National Para Games

People with disabilities can now overcome their low self-esteem so they can make achievements, including in sports. Physical limitations are by no means an obstacle to success.

KOMPAS/Ferganata Indra Riatmoko

Table tennis athlete Andi Munandar from South Sumatra tries to return the ball while competing against Andi Santoso from Central Java in the semi-finals of the T2-T3 classification table tennis branch of the 2021 Papua National Paralympic Games at Istora Papua Bangkit, Jayapura Regency, Papua, Tuesday (9/11). /2021). Andi Munandar won with a score of 3-1.

Disability is not an obstacle to success. This has been proven by the Paralympic athletes who competed at the 2021 National Paralympic Games (Peparnas) held in Papua.

On the very first day of the swimming competitions at the Lukas Enembe aquatic arena, Jayapura, Papua, Monday (8/11/2021), two national records were broken. Two gold medalists, Siti Alfiah (19) from the women’s S5-S6 classification, and Gerry Pahker (17) from the men’s S6 classification, both set new national records in the 50 meters breaststroke.

Included in the S6 classification are those with short stature, amputation of both arms, or moderate coordination issues on one side of their body. Siti, a short swimmer from Central Java, recorded a time of 52.44 seconds, breaking the previous national record, held by Riyanti, with 59.15 seconds.

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Five minutes later, Gerry also broke a national record. The Peparnas debutant from Riau finished ahead with a time of 44.32 seconds, besting Toif Fauzi’s record of 48.02 seconds. (Kompas, 8/11/2021).

Other than the aquatic arena, new talents also sprung up in athletics. One was a blind runner from Central Java, Muhammad Dimas, who won gold in the 400-meter race. Finishing with a time of 55.55 seconds, Dimas also broke a national record, previously held by Rully A. Mubarok, who recorded 56.53 seconds at the 2016 West Java Peparnas.

An interesting phenomenon was observed at this year’s Peparnas, according to Dimin BA, a Paralympic swimming training coach. Dimin said the emergence of new talents could not be separated from the increasing popularity of sports for people with disabilities. Now, more and more people with disabilities want to become athletes.

KOMPAS/KELVIN HIANUSA

S6 swimmer Laura Aurelia Dinda won the 2021 Papua National Paralympic Games gold from the 100 meter freestyle, at the Lukas Enembe Aquatic Arena, Jayapura Regency, Tuesday (9/11/2021). Laura, who represented DKI Jakarta, finished ahead with a time of 1 minute 26.21 seconds.

One of the reasons behind the increasing popularity of Paralympic sports is due to Indonesia’s achievements at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which took place between August 24 and September 5, 2021. Indonesia took home two gold, three silver and four bronze medals. Both gold medals were won in badminton, by Leani Ratri Oktila and Khalimatus Sadiyah in the women’s doubles and Leani Ratri Oktila and Hary Susanto in the mixed doubles.

Leani and Khalimatus’ victory gave Indonesia its first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and is also Indonesia’s first since the 1980 Arnhem Paralympics, marking the end of the 41-year Paralympic gold drought.

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What also brought relief and joy was that the bonus awards that the Paralympic medalists received from the government were equal to that of the Olympic medalists. This was unimaginable because Paralympic sports have been greatly underestimated in the past.

We should be grateful for this, in terms of equality and discrimination, sports development and also human resource development. People with disabilities can now overcome their low self-esteem so they can make achievements, including in sports. They inspire fellow disabled people as well as the public. Physical limitations are by no means an obstacle to success.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.