With Tears, Siti Aisah Remembers Her Daughter's Struggle Windy Cantika: Lifting Cement Barbells For Exercise

Indonesian women's lifter Windy Cantika Aisah (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Mother Siti Aisah's prayers and tears accompanied her daughter Windy Cantika Aisah's struggle when she won the first medal for Indonesia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Even though she only watched it on a television screen, Siti Aisah also accompanied the prayer strings she recited from home. She admitted that she was moved to tears when Windy Cantika was declared a bronze medal in the women's 49kg class.

“I kept praying as long as Cantika performed. My chest was beating very, very fast, especially seeing that Cantik had failed twice in the Snatch class. As soon as Cantika won the bronze medal, I didn't feel the tears running down my cheeks," Siti Aisah said in a statement to KOI quoted from Antara, Saturday, July 24.

"Likewise, her husband and younger siblings, who deliberately gathered at home, also shed tears of happiness," he added.

Siti Aisah remembers her daughter's struggle to achieve the success she is now. He admitted that he was very proud because in his debut at the Olympics, the 19-year-old lifter had to face world-class opponents.

Not to mention, Windy's condition, who was exposed to COVID-19 at the end of last year, had to undergo self-isolation for a month.

Siti Aisah's wish, who once collected various medals at international championships, so that Windy Cantika can be more successful than her in pursuing a career in the weightlifting world has now been fulfilled.

The feeling of joy grew even more when the mother saw the happy look on her daughter's face just after winning the Olympic bronze medal via video call.

"Mama. Cantika thanked her for the prayers and support from her mother, father and brother and sister. Neng could only reach third place. Those were the words that Cantika said during the video call. And, I just answered. Thank God, I was able to win bronze in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The video call didn't last long because Cantika wanted to answer the call from Menpora Zainudin Amali," said Siti Aisah.

Windy Cantika Aisah with her family (Photo: DOK KOI)

Talking about Windy's success, Siti Aisah again remembered the cement barbell that had been the princess's training tool when she was little.

"Cantika once asked about the cement barbell, how come it's still there. Yes, I will keep it as a memory," when closing the conversation.

Windy Cantika Aisah who fell in the 49kg class contributed the first medal for Merah Putih through bronze after recording a total force of 194kg, with a snatch of 84kg and a clean and jerk of 110kg.