Tiara Andini, Best Downhill Athlete In Asia Who Was A Private Company Security Guard

Tiara Andini Prastika/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA – Who would have thought that the best downhill athlete in Asia, Tiara Andini, once worked as a security guard at a private company in Semarang City, Central Java. Tiara, won a gold medal in the 31st Downhill SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In achieving a career in the bicycle racing championship for the downhill category at the SEA Games and Asian Games, Tiara has had a fairly winding journey. Until finally he got a call to attend the training camp (TC) preparation for the Asian Games in Malang, East Java.

"At that time, I had signed a three-month work contract. Work had been going on for two months, then I was asked to join a training camp. At that time I never practiced, but my parents were asked to try and finally left for Malang," said the third child of five siblings. .

Tiara's love for the world of sports is not necessarily tied to a bicycle. Initially Tiara chose badminton. His idol figure, the Indonesian men's doubles badminton athlete who was also from Semarang, the late Rian Sukmawan, had inspired him.

Rian Sukmawan's success at that time made Tiara, who was still in elementary school, dream of becoming a badminton athlete. He was engaged in various training activities, but it only lasted a year after the place where he used to practice moved.

Entering junior high school, Tiara, who has sports blood from her parents who are both volleyball players, chose extracurricular sports and she was chosen to represent the school to participate in the Regional Sports Week and the National Student Sports Olympiad (O2SN) for the Bullet Rejection branch.

Tiara tells that she started to enter the world of bicycle racing when she was in high school by trying out roodbike and BMX, until she entered Downhill for a beginner age and finally got into the achievement or elite class.

Tiara's strong desire to realize her dream also bears sweet fruit by successively bringing the fragrance of the name of Indonesia.

In 2016 Tiara managed to become the first winner in the Women Elite Over All Series Indonesia DH. In 2017 won the first place in the Women Elite Over All Series Indonesia DH; third place in the Women Elite Asia Championship Xuancheng, China. In 2018 won third place at the Women Elite Asia Championship Cebu, Philippines; and first place in the Women Elite Asian Games XVIII Jakarta (Palembang).

Tiara's achievements continue to be carved. In 2019 she won first place in the Women Asia Mountain Bike Kuching Malaysia; first place in the Women Elite Over All Series; second place at the 30th Philippines SEA Games.

In 2020, coinciding with the high number of COVID-19 cases, there will be no championships. In 2021 Tiara managed to become the second winner in the Women Elite National Championship, Garut, West Java.

In 2022, Tiara also won gold again after becoming the first winner in the 31st Women's SEA Games championship in Vietnam and from these achievements it is the highest peak in the existing championships.

Tiara admitted that she had managed to reach the highest point of achievement by winning gold at the Sea Games and Asian Games. The absence of a level above it other than the SEA Games and Asian Games, makes Tiara ready to "hang the helmet" from the bicycle world.

Tiara Andini Prastika/ Photo: Antara

"The SEA Games and the Asian Games are the highest, they are no longer stuck. Maybe if there is a downhill racing at the Olympics, maybe I'm still passionate about racing," said Tiara, who conveyed the news that she would get married on July 3, 2022 at the Great Mosque of Semarang, Java. Middle.

To achieve this achievement, admitted Tiara is not easy. Moreover, downhill is included in the category of a dangerous sport, plus the track (trajectory) it goes through is full of challenges and competes for speed.

Athletes are required to quickly adapt and quickly read the track that will be passed. They were only given two hours in 1 day to try out the track and the next day they competed.

At the 2019 Sea Games in the Philippines, during D-2 practice before the championship, Tiara fell while practicing on the track and broke the little finger of her left hand.

A strong desire to carry the good name of Indonesia, made Tiara continue to advance in the championship with her little finger tied and taking pain medication. Despite being injured, Tiara won silver with the second place in the 30th SEA Games in the Philippines.

Not only the little finger of her left hand, in a different exercise, Tiara also suffered an injury to the index finger of her right hand and it did not stop her from focusing on achieving achievements.

Tiara admitted that her dream of becoming a champion could not be separated from the support from many parties, including WIU Cyling Gravity Racing, where she and the cycling athletes take shelter.

"We appreciate the struggle of our athletes who have worked hard to reach the podium and WIU Cyling Gravity Racing has become a gathering place for the best Indonesian DH racers with a series of national and international achievements," said Yongki Kristanto, as Marketing Head of PT Wahana Inti Utama, met in Semarang.

Tiara's success, for PT Wahana Inti Utama (WHU) as the holder of the Patrol & Dominate bicycle trademark and the importer of Trek bicycles in Indonesia, is an extraordinary result and deserves appreciation.

Tiara Andini is the best female downhill (DH) racer not only in Southeast Asia but also at the Asian level and proven at the 2018 Asian Games, she managed to become the fastest and won a gold medal in the Women Elite DH class.

In the history of DH Asia racing, the achievement of this cyclist from Semarang is truly extraordinary and has not been solved by other Asian racers until now.

Regarding Tiara, who will retire from cycling, Yongki admits that he respects the decision and his party is currently preparing two potential replacements, although it will take time to be as good as Tiara.

Tiara's dream that she hangs on has sweet fruit, because after retiring she will focus on her oil palm plantation business. As for her successor in the downhill cycling branch, Tiara hopes that other young athletes who will replace her will achieve the highest achievement.

Tiara's achievement is proof that the adage "hang your achievements as high as the sky" has come true.