JACOBS’ BAT
Denty Piawai Nastitie (Kompas, Jakarta)

When he was a child, David Jacobs often felt embarrassed for having a right hand smaller than his left. Through table tennis, David found his world. Table tennis gave him the ability to celebrate diversity and build the spirit of equality.

David learned about table tennis when he was nine years old. Incidentally, there was a tennis table near his house in Batang District, Central Java. Seeing how much his older siblings had fun playing table tennis, David, who was born in Makassar on 21 June 1977, was interested to try. “After practicing for a while, my father enrolled me in a club. At the time, the coach accepted me out of pity,” says David.

David’s relentless spirit and discipline has led him to many accomplishments. In various tournaments, both for disabled and non-disabled athletes, David was successful in winning against his opponents. At the 2018 Asian Para Games, David won two gold medals.

The medals and prizes that he received do not make David grow complacent. The father of four shares his experience and knowledge by training children and teenagers from outside Jakarta who want to follow in his footsteps to become a professional athlete. Most of these young athletes are nondisabled. He has been doing this exercise because he remembers having difficulties in finding training partners.

It gives David a sense of pride and satisfaction to see his prodigies’ achievements. Several young athletes were even able to compete in SEA Games and Asian Games. However, accolades are not the only way to measure a success. “The most important thing is that these kids develop a strong character, become independent and disciplined, and have the opportunity for a better life. With their accomplishments in sports, kids from small towns may receive scholarships or job offers,” he explains.

Based on WHO data, around 10 percent of the Indonesian population (24 million people) are disabled. They often face difficulties in life because they are considered a disgrace. Public ignorance, including the government’s,
about the disabled community causes them to be ostracized from the community and face many kinds of problems.

David feels lucky to have been able to make a name for himself, which helped him build his self-confidence and be meaningful in the society. His family—especially his parents, Jan Jacobs (father) and Neelce Samallo Jacobs (mother)—and his surrounding community play very important roles in molding him. David wishes to see an Indonesia that is more open to the disabled community. Just as a society is made up of various individuals, the special-needs community is also a part of Indonesia.