Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra, Indonesian Shooting History Maker

Shooter Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra is Indonesia's star at the 2022 Asian Games. He donated the first gold for Indonesia at the 2022 Asian Games as well as Indonesia's first shooting gold in the history of the event.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra, Pencetak Sejarah Menembak Indonesia

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Indonesian shooter, Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra, won gold in the men's 10 meter running target mixed individual event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Hangzhou, China, Tuesday (26/9/2023).

Since it was first competed in the Asian Games in Manila, Philippines in 1954, Indonesia was finally able to win gold in the shooting sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games, China 2022. This monumental achievement was contributed by shooter Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra (26). In fact, Sejahtera immediately won two gold medals from the 10 meter individual running target and 10 meter individual running target mixed.

"It's definitely gold, it's definitely gold," said shooter Muhammad Badri Akbar, Sejahtera's partner, running from the competition arena to the mixed zone room, aka athlete interview place at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Tuesday (26/9/ 2023). Akbar has just confirmed that Sejahtera, who is usually known as Tera, won gold in the 10 meter running mixed target individual number.

The total score of Tera could not be surpassed by North Korean shooter, Kwon Kwang-Il, who was the last participant to complete the competition, which was participated by a total of 18 participants. Tera collected a total score of 378-11x (11 shots hitting the center of the target) out of a total of 40 shots in the competition, while Kwon obtained a total score of 377-9x, thus having to settle for silver.

Tera's colleagues in the running target discipline, Akbar and Irfandi Julio, as well as coach Masruri immediately cheered and hugged Tera tightly. With teary eyes, Tera stood straight while enduring the jolts of hugs from these people. It seems that there is deep satisfaction in Tera, even though it is not shown in expressive gestures.

Akbar, Irfandi, and Masruri couldn't contain their feelings of emotion. Their tears shed to celebrate this historic gold medal, not only for Tera, the running target discipline, and the Indonesian shooting team, but also for the "Merah-Putih" contingent.

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This was the second gold won by Tera at the 2022 Asian Games. The day before, he had won gold in the 10 meter individual running target, which was also the first gold for the Indonesian contingent at the 19th edition of the Asian Games.

Tera also made two history marks for shooting Indonesia. He broke the golden egg to shoot Indonesia at the Asian Games and also became the first shooter of the "Merah-Putih" team to win two gold medals at the Asian Games. Together with Akbar and Irfandi, Tera also won bronze for the 10 meter running target team and the 10 meter mixed target running team.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Indonesian shooter, Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra (second from right), hugs Muhammad Badri Akbar and coaches, Masruri (right) and Irfandi Julio (back), after donating gold in the men's 10 meter running target mixed event. Hangzhou Asian Games 2022 at Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Hangzhou, China, Tuesday (26/9/2023).

"These two gold medals are the fruits of my long struggle in overcoming numerous ups and downs during the past five years of training. I am always grateful for the support from my closest ones in overcoming all of those obstacles, ranging from my wife, children, parents, fellow athletes, coaches, to the officials of Perbakin (Indonesia Shooting and Hunting Association)," said Tera.

Career turning point

Going back five years, Tera was also the shooter who ended Indonesia's shooting medal drought at the Asian Games when she won the 10 meter running target mixed individual silver in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang edition. Previously, this was the last time Indonesia won a medal. shot when Elias Joseph Lessy took home bronze in the 10 meter air rifle at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

However, Tera is not entirely satisfied with the silver medal. She is disappointed because she had the potential to win gold. The opportunity was lost because her mind was distracted by a number of congratulations that came after leading the first 20 shots.

When Tera had forgotten about the disappointment, her mental state was briefly disturbed by negative comments about her in the national training center (pelatnas). This time, Tera tried to be more open-minded and sincere so that her thoughts would not be disturbed. "If I keep thinking about negative comments from others, my concentration will be disrupted, which can make my shooting results worse," she said.

To surpass all that, Tera revealed, it was not actually easy. However, thanks to the support of those closest to her, she was able to overcome a number of ups and downs in life. This forged her to become a stronger individual until she could stand on the highest podium of the 2022 Asian Games.

"One of the most important moments in my life was when my child, Fatimah Zeline Nabilla, was born 11 months ago. His presence doubled my motivation. Earlier (during the 10 meter running mixed target race), the child's face was always visible. "That's what helped me determine to make my wife, children, parents and of course the country proud," said Fitri Syaifullah Irnandez's husband.

Realistic options

As for Tera, it can be said that he was late to know shooting. He only came into contact with the sport in 2015, or in his second year of studying in the Department of Sports Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Jakarta State University. At that time, he thought realistically about pursuing achievements in shooting.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Indonesian shooter, Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra, prepares for the men's 10 meter running target mixed individual event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games at the Fuyang Yinhu Sports Center, Hangzhou, China, Tuesday (26/9/2023).

"Beforehand, I was into soccer and futsal. But, I am being realistic. These sports have a lot of fans in Indonesia, therefore it's harder to compete to chase the achievements. Finally, I tried to participate in shooting practice," said the athlete born in Jakarta on April 13, 1997.

Tera got to know shooting when he took part in the selection, one of which was led by Masruri, who had just started his coaching career. It turns out, Tera made the right choice. It didn't take long for him to show his great potential by winning two golds and two silvers from the 10 meter running target and the 10 meter mixed target running at the 2015 SEASA Shooting Championship at the Senayan Shooting Field, Jakarta .

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Gradually, Tera's achievements continued to increase. After winning silver in the 10 meter running target mixed at the 2018 Asian Games, he won gold in the 10 meter running target and 10 meter running target mixed gold in the Asian Championships Air Weapons 2021 in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, and won the 10 meter running target gold and the 10 meter running target team silver at the Vietnam 2021 SEA Games last year.

"Since I first met Tera, I have been certain that she has great potential to excel at an international level. Tera has a calm demeanor that is the main element for becoming a shooter. A shooter must be able to control themselves in order to maintain concentration during a competition. If their mind is easily distracted, the athlete's shooting results will surely be poor," said Masruri."

Even though he has made history, Tera still has hopes of achieving higher achievements. Therefore, he hopes that PB Perbakin will propose that the 10 meter running target be competed again at the Olympics after the last time at the 2004 Athens edition. "Hopefully one day, I will still get the opportunity to make Indonesia proud at the Olympics," concluded the child. The couple Andrizal (father) and Betmiaty (mother).

Muhammad Sejahtera Dwi Putra

Place of birth: Jakarta, April 13 1997

Performance:

-two gold and two bronze at the 2022 Asian Games

-2018 Asian Games silver

-two golds at the 2021 Asian Air Weapon Championship

-2021 SEA Games gold and silver