Age Factor, Oka Sulaksana Will 'Hang The Screen' After PON Papua

I Gusti Made Oka Sulaksana (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The figure of a Balinese windsurfer, I Gusti Made Oka Sulaksana who won a gold medal in the RSX specialist number at the XX National Sports Week (PON) in 2021, said he would "hang up" his sails or retire.

The man who has become a legend in the sport of windsurfing has declared that he is retiring from the world of the sport, besides the age factor, it also provides opportunities for young surfers to achieve more brilliant achievements.

Oka Sulaksana has been in this sport since he was a teenager until he is 50 years old.

"Now I give a chance to the young people," said the man who was born in Denpasar, April 29, 1971.

Oka Sulaksana admitted that he was proud to be an athlete so that he could make the name of the region and the Indonesian nation proud. The gold medal has been won since PON XIII in 1993 in Jakarta four times in a row until PON XX in Papua in 2021.

He said that even though he was separated in the world of water sports, especially windsurfing, he always gave support to his fellow young athletes in the sport.

"I believe that the successor of young athletes to win gold is very open, especially windsurfing from the Island of the Gods. I advise young athletes to practice continuously and diligently. Achievements will be achieved if they practice continuously and become a commitment for athletes as playing hobbyists. in sea water," said the husband of Anak Agung Made Dwi Arini.

Oka Sulaksana said the struggle at the beginning of the PON that was followed. In 1993 even the numbers that he followed were more in the RSX and Mistral numbers.

“In the past, there were more match numbers. The first two editions of PON I followed were very hard, but after that I started to get used to it. Astungkara (praise be to God) is always given a gold medal," he said.

Oka Sulaksana admits that he wants to be a coach for young surfers and that potential has started to grow.

"The potential for windsurfers is quite a lot. Among them are Hanzel and Gopala. Both are still young, now it's just a matter of nurturing them. This is actually a tough challenge for me. Because disciplining myself is much harder than disciplining others," he said.

He said that since becoming a windsurfer athlete, a number of gold medals have been collected, both at national and international events.

Oka Sulaksana's achievements were inscribed from PON XII in 1993 to PON XX in 2021 in Papua, winning four consecutive times with gold pieces.

Likewise, at the 1989 SEA Games, Oka Sulaksana won the gold medal, the 1991 SEA Games the gold medal until the 2011 SEA Games continued to win the gold. While at the 1998 Asian Games gold medals, the 2002 Asian Games gold medals, and the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games silver medals.