Inspirational, ASEAN Para Games 2022 Arousing Interests Of Persons With Disabilities To Become Athletes

Indonesian runner Nanda Mei Sholihah (left) carries the flag after finishing fastest in the women's 400m final at the T47 ASEAN Para Games 2022 (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesia is the country that is the most insistent on holding the 2022 ASEAN Para Games (APG) and finally volunteered to be the substitute host for Vietnam, which resigned.

The ASEAN Para Games 2022 is not only about competition in sports. There have been many impacts on organizing the 11th edition of the biggest sporting event in Southeast Asia.

One of them is to foster a sense of self-confidence for people with disabilities to be able to excel, one of which is through the field of sports.

The exposure to news related to the 2022 ASEAN Para Games has attracted many people to find out more about sports with disabilities.

The entire series of matches from 14 sports in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games will also be broadcast live through various platforms. This is the first time this has happened in the history of the disability sports event in Southeast Asia.

As a result, now people can get to know more about sports heroes in the country apart from non-disabled ones.

One of the athletes, Khalimatus Sadiyah, also admitted that during the event, many people asked how to become an athlete like himself.

With pleasure, Khalim, Khalimatus Sadiyah's nickname, answered and shared his experiences from the starting point to where it is today.

Khalim is a SL4 para-badminton athlete who has many achievements. The highest, won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics with Leani Ratri Oktila in the women's doubles number SL3-SU5.

"Now the ASEAN Para Games are in Solo. Not a few have asked directly or through social media how to become an athlete. They were curious and I told them what the way would be," said Khalim, quoted from Antara, Friday.

On this occasion, he also talked about the beginning of being able to strengthen Indonesia on the international stage.

"I was involved in para-badminton in 2013. Initially I played with non-disabled people at a badminton club in Mojokerto. Until finally someone invited me to compete in para-badminton in Jakarta. ," said Khalim.

On the other hand, the steps of the organizing committee to involve people with disabilities including children in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games deserve appreciation.

Many children with disabilities are now moved after seeing athletes compete. The fighting spirit of athletes has been transmitted to those who now have big dreams to be able to fly the Red and White through the field of sports.

For example, the children or students of SLB Negeri 1 Sragen who were present witnessed athletes from the para-athletic branch at the Manahan Stadium, Solo.

They seemed very enthusiastic to be able to take a closer look, even wanted to take pictures with the athletes.

The trainer and teacher of SLB Negeri 1 Sragen, Fendi Eko Cahyono, revealed that he deliberately invited students to watch the 2022 ASEAN Para Games to be motivated.

In addition, the parents of students also participated. In addition to accompanying children, said Fendi, the presence of parents to understand that the opportunity for their children to excel is wide open.

"By watching athletes with disabilities compete and in the end parents are more supportive of their children to become athletes," said Fendi while stressing how important the role of people in realizing children's dreams.

Febi is the figure behind the success of one of the athletes, Yunika Anas Tasya, who is a para-athletic athlete who specializes in the T37 running number.

Yunika was ranked third in the 100 meters and 200 meters at the Asian Youth Para Games in Bahrain some time ago. He also participated in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games.

"I have trained Tasya since grade 4. After school, at 11.00 WIB I took her to the field to practice. The results are now visible. She is my example for educating and training these children," he said.

The path to become an athlete

On a different occasion, the Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Paralympic Committee (NPC) Rima Ferdianto explained the steps for people with disabilities to become national athletes.

He revealed that the NPC, as the parent organization that serves as a forum for athletes with disabilities, has spread across all provinces in the country.

People with disabilities, said Rima, can visit NPCs in their respective regions to find out more about sports with disabilities.

Later NPCs in the area will direct. Usually coaches will classify based on interests and talents, as well as level of disability. After the process, the coach will also try several alternative sports that might be occupied.

NPCs in the regions then conduct amateur coaching. When the potential is seen, it will be sent to regional level championships, such as City/Province Paralympic Weeks in each region.

An athlete must be able to prove their achievements at the regional level before finally being able to represent their respective provinces to compete at the national level such as the National Paralympic Week (Peparnas).

After that, athletes who excel have the opportunity to enter the national training squad. The process is fairly strict. They must be able to show their ability and are worthy to defend the Red and White on the international stage.

"When it comes to events abroad or raising the Red and White on the international stage, we are always looking for the best. But the breeding pattern is as mentioned earlier," said Rima.

After entering the national training, athletes also can not be careless. They must maintain consistency because the promotion and relegation system is still in effect.

Usually every three months, the Central NPC will invite regional NPCs to submit their athletes to be able to compete with athletes in the national training.

With this system, athletes who are already in national training will also be encouraged to continue to improve their abilities. Because many athletes in the area are eyeing this position.

"We are transparent about the national training. For example, if there are para-powerlifting athletes outside the national training, the force can be better, please go directly to the center and we will select the athletes from the national training. The losers go home and practice again in the regions," said Rima.