Jendi Dedicates Gold to Earthquake-Tsunami Victims

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Indonesian para-swimmer Jendi Pangabean, who survived a debilitating accident in his teenage years, won gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta on Thursday (11/10/2018) evening. He dedicated his gold medal to the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi.

Thunderous applause was heard at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) aquatic center, the venue of the 2018 Asian Para Games’ swimming event, when Jendi was declared the winner of the finals in class-S9 (lower body impairment) men’s 100-meter backstroke.

Jendi soundly defeated China’s Luo Qingquan, his fiercest opponent, by 1.14 seconds. The gold was the second medal for Jendi, who lit the 2018 Asian Para Games flame, after the bronze that he won in the 34-point 4x100m medley with Guntur, Steven Sulang and Suriansyah.

Indonesia remains in sixth position in the medal standings, with 24 golds, 33 silvers and 39 bronzes.

“This is my first gold at the Asian Para Games. I present this gold to all Indonesians who suffered from the recent disasters. Hopefully, this will give them all hope, especially the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Donggala. Our hearts and prayers are with them,” Jendi said.

The 27-year-old athlete from South Sumatra who won Indonesia’s 24th gold said he hoped that the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi could rise from the tragedy soon. He said he believed that disasters were not the end of everything.

Jendi lost most of his left leg in a motorbike accident when he was 12 years old. However, the tragedy was not the end of his life.

“Jendi was just a boy at the time. He remained cheerful and never complained. It was only after completing middle school that he became a little bit down. My wife and I cried almost every day because we were worried about his future. However, seeing him today, all our worries have evaporated,” Jendi’s father, Akmal Yasbudaya, 52, said through tears at the aquatic center’s gallery just after his son won the gold.

Akmal said he always tried to instill positive life values in Jendi, including not giving up easily and always being grateful. “I told Jendi that he should get a job – that he should not be a beggar, no matter what happened,” he said.

Indonesian para-swimming team head coach Dimin said that Jendi\'s talent and strong will put him in a league of his own. “He is super-confident. I often tell him that he mustn\'t be big-headed. He must understand this if he wants to get ahead,” he said.

Para-swimming coach Bhima Kautsar, however, said that Jendi often rejected special treatment and wanted equal training hours as other para-swimmers.

Indonesian swimming legend Albert Sutanto praised Jendi for his performance. “It’s not easy to perform in front of a full stadium. A strong mentality is needed,” said the 2018 Asian Para Games swimming competition manager.

Athletes’ bonuses

During his visit to the para-cycling venue at the Jakarta International Velodrome in Rawamangun, Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi said that bonuses for Asian Para Games medalists would be disbursed on Saturday (13/10) before the closing ceremony.

“We have earmarked Rp 250 billion [US$16.45 million] for the bonuses. The amount will be taken from unabsorbed state budget allocation funds and from the budget reduction for workshops and visits,” Imam said.

He went on to say that similar to the Asian Games, the government would provide bonuses for Asian Para Games non-medalists. “They have fought hard in the Asian Para Games. We will show them our appreciation. The amount will be the same as for Asian Games non-medalists, namely Rp 20 million at most,” Imam said.

Imam said that for 2019, the government would request a higher budget for disabled athletes to facilitate their participation in international championships. (JON/DNA/OKI)

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