Introducing Adinda Larasati! East Java Athletes Who Won The Most Gold At PON XX Papua, Swimming With A Pen Stuck In Hand

East Java female open water swimmer Adinda Larasati (Photo: ANTARA)

PAPUA - The Papua National Sports Week (PON) officially ended with a closing ceremony marked at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Jayapura Regency, Friday night, October 15 yesterday.

Of the approximately six thousand athletes who competed, the female swimmer from East Java, Adinda Larasati Dewi Kirana, became the athlete with the largest collection of gold medals in the biggest sporting event in the country, the XX edition.

Overall, as reported by Antara, Adinda Larasati managed to bring home eight gold medals and one silver. The score is extraordinary. Because Adinda appears with the condition of the hand that is still embedded with the pen.

Yes, Adinda admitted that less than a year ago, a pen was embedded in one of her hands after an accident in July 2020.

The incident also disrupted Adinda's preparations for the Papua PON because she had to get on the operating table. She also had to rest and stay away from the pool for four months.

In fact, said Adinda, doctors advised not to do strenuous activities for one year. But on the other hand, Adinda has a target for PON Papua. She wants to appear and give her best for East Java.

Her determination, overcame all. Adinda began to return to undergoing preparations in November 2020 with the pen still embedded in her hand.

"I have a target in PON, I don't want to take a break and have to try," said Adinda on the day of the swimming competition, last Thursday. Adinda admits that she often feels pain. Especially when she touched the cold water. Of course, that makes it uncomfortable.

Even while competing in the Kampung Harapan Aquatic Arena, the pain in her hands was still felt. However, Adinda said, as long as you have strong faith and determination, all obstacles and challenges can be passed.

Adinda also proved it by winning eight gold and one silver medals in the four-year party.

Queen of Aquatic Arena

Seven of them were won at the Kampung Harapan Aquatic Arena, Jayapura Regency, which is the location of the swimming competition.

The 21-year-old swimmer appeared superior and seemed to be a queen in the international standard arena. She finished ahead in the women's 200m freestyle. She defeated Angel Gabriella Yus from DKI Jakarta and Ressa Kania Dewi from East Java.

In addition, in the women's 800 meters freestyle, Adinda was superior by defeating Raina Saumi G from West Java and Ressa who was in third place.

In this number, Adinda recorded a time of 8 minutes 59.78 seconds. This result also broke Raina Saumi G's PON record at Pekan Baru in 2012 with 9 minutes 01.98 seconds.

She also set a PON record in the 100-meter butterfly with a score of 1 minute 01.65 seconds or better than Angel Gabreilla Yus' previous record of 1 minute 01.66 seconds at the 2016 PON in West Java.

In the butterfly style, the athlete who was born on March 4, 2000, also won a gold medal at a distance of 50 meters.

The rest, she contributed greatly to the relay number. As in the women's 4x100 meter freestyle relay, women's 4x100 meter freestyle relay, and women's 4x200 freestyle relay.

In addition, Adinda got one gold while competing in the women's 10 km open water swimming competition, which rolls in Yos Sudarso Bay.

This achievement is better than the 2016 PON in West Java, where Adinda won four gold, one silver, and one bronze.

"I'm satisfied, originally the target was five gold and in PON Papua it could be more than that. In addition, from the record time it was also better," said Adinda.

The Head of the Development and Achievement Division of the All-Indonesian Swimming Association (PRSI) of East Java, Muhammad Chusaini, said she was proud of Adinda's achievements.

Moreover, said Chusaini, his flagship swimmer was constrained in terms of preparation.

"Yes, she had an incident when she fell from a motorbike and had to undergo surgery. We were worried at the time," said Chusaini.

"It turned out that thanks to the support of the East Java KONI and East Java PRSI, all of her treatment and recovery were continuously monitored. And Adinda appeared extraordinary," Chusaini added.

Meanwhile, after the Papua PON, Adinda said that she would immediately return to the operating table to remove the pen that was embedded in her hand.

Adinda can't wait to look back at other big events such as the SEA Games and the Asian Games.

"After that, I will have surgery. I hope you recover quickly," Adinda said hopefully.

Big Contribution

Adinda contributed greatly to East Java's achievements in the swimming competition at the Papua National Sports Week. East Java became the contingent with the most medals in the swimming competition with 14 gold, 7 silver, and 9 bronze.

In addition to Adinda, East Java gold also won a gold medal from Nurul Fajar Fitriyati in the 100 and 200 meters women's backstroke.

In addition, Ressa Kania Dewi competed in the women's 200-meter breaststroke and 200-meter women's individual medley.

Also, Patricia Yosita Hapsari who went down in the women's 100 meters freestyle.

Meanwhile, Glenn Viktor won two gold medals in the men's 50 and 100 meters butterfly respectively.

In open water swimming, East Java was also the best with four gold and two silver.

Especially for the swimming pool, the achievement in Papua was better than the 2016 PON in West Java, which at that time East Java brought home nine gold, 11 silver, and 13 bronze.

Chusaini hopes that the achievements of East Java's swimming athletes will continue to increase.

PRSI East Java has also prepared a series of programs to lead to the next PON in Aceh and North Sumatra in 2024.

Chusaini said that there are still a number of homeworks to be done.

"We see that there is a slight gap because there are several athletes who are already seniors and we estimate that in the next four years their achievements will decrease," said Chusaini.

"Actually we have prepared trainers. In East Java, there is a term SPOP or Student Sports Training Center. So we have prepared a second layer for the next four years," concluded Chusaini.