PLANTING DREAMS AND HARVESTING ACHIEVEMENTS
Jessica Margaretha, TopSkor

Regeneration is a necessity. Some occur naturally, like leaves that turn color, or drying and falling leaves. Others occur according to our needs, such as the regeneration in sports.

Sports clubs are nothing new in Indonesia—they are everywhere and always full of competitive young athletes looking to claim their first, second or third championship. In these places, the losers are always cast aside and somewhat hidden in the shadows of the winners, who seem to have little trouble getting ahead of the game.

At Rawamangun Athletic Center (RACe), the process of regeneration is a constant battle that goes on from time to time. Sportsmanship is taught in early age, as children of varying age—from toddlers to elementary school students—arrive bearing great hopes to replace their seniors, such as Ahmad Sakeh Sumarsono (DKI), a 400-meter and 200-meter sprint champion at PON (National Sports Weekend Championship) 2004; Syafwaturrahman (NTB) a 200-meter champion at Kejurnas (National Athletic Championship) 2013; Dedeh Erawati (DKI) who came unrivaled as a champion at PON 2013 in 100-meter sprint championship; or Rudy Yanwaf, a popular senior athlete from West Papua.

All around the world, athletes are trained from early age. And despite their pint-sized features, these children are not to be underestimated, for they have every intention to become great athletes like their idols. In Indonesia, these children are always enrolled at national competitions (like PON and Kejurnas), representing their respective hometowns. And if they manage to win these national competitions, they will go on to represent their country at international championships, such as SEA Games, ASEAN Games and the Olympics.

The future, for these children, is one they have to prepare for as early as possible. They work very hard for it. “I want to be a champion, representing Indonesia at SEA Games or other world championships,” said Raihan, 10, one of the trainees at RACe.

Agung Mulyawan, as the head coach, said that at RACe, both sports technique and mental development of participating child athletes are addressed in tandem. Confidence is a key asset that requires the participants to gain more self-esteem. The results of their training will show at real competitions such as Monthly Athletic Championship for Elementary School Students in DKI Jakarta.

Some will win, some will lose. There occurs the true process of natural selection. And throughout this long and tiresome ordeal, Agung hopes to help Raihan and his friends to achieve their dream—to deliver victory after victory for the love of their country, Indonesia.

Empowerment is a soul-searching discovery of our deep-seated interests and talents, which can be honed and developed through various processes in order to empower us, with a final aim toward regeneration.