Next step Olympics 2000 gold, says windsurfer Oka<\/p>\n
By Lukman Natanagara<\/p>\n
KUTA, Bali (JP): For an athlete, winning an Olympic Games gold
\nmedal is the ultimate ambition. This is certainly the case for I
\nGusti Made Oka Sulaksana, Indonesia's top windsurfer.<\/p>\n
Oka won the gold medal in the 13th Asian Games in Pattaya,
\nThailand, late last year. The Asiad has been recognized as the
\nsecond biggest multi-sports event after the Olympics. Next year
\nin Sydney, the Balinese will try to make his dream come true.<\/p>\n
\"My target is to win the Sydney Olympics 2000 gold. Of course
\nit's not an easy job, that's why I have trained harder,\" said
\nOka, who finished in 13th position in the 1996 Olympics in
\nAtlanta, Georgia.<\/p>\n
As a part of his preparations for the quadrennial event, Oka
\ncontinually practices at the Kuta and Sanur beaches. He trains
\nfrom 5:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the morning, and usually jogs before
\ntraining.<\/p>\n
Oka, a devoted Hindu, also avoids smoking, alcohol and fatty
\nfoods.<\/p>\n
He will also compete in the World Championships legs in New
\nCaledonia and Argentina, which are the qualifying events for the
\nOlympics.<\/p>\n
Oka's reputation as a world-class windsurfer was not gained
\neasily. He started the sport at the age of 13, using an old
\nsurfboard with a bamboo mast.<\/p>\n
Born in Bali on April 29, 1971, Oka won his first competition
\nin the 1986 Bali Open. In the same year, he finished second in
\nthe Singapore Open.<\/p>\n
In 1987, he retained his title in the Bali Open. He also
\ncompeted in an international tournament in France, finishing in
\n20th position.<\/p>\n
Oka -- who is married to Made Dwi Arini and has one daughter,
\nGusti Ayu Chandra Pertiwi -- has seen his career continue to
\nescalate. His highest achievement was at the Asian Games last
\nyear. Due to his success, he received the Best Male Athlete award
\nfrom the National Sports Council (KONI), the Jakarta chapter of
\nIndonesian Sports Journalists and state-owned TVRI.<\/p>\n
Oka said he was not easily satisfied with his success.<\/p>\n
\"I never want to give up. I will always look for victories.\"<\/p>\n
Although receiving the award, Oka could not hide his
\ndisappointment with KONI, which he considers does not pay him
\nenough attention.<\/p>\n
\"I have requested financial help from KONI but I think they
\njust ignored it. I am lucky to have Quicksilver as my sponsor. I
\nappreciate their support,\" Oka said.<\/p>\n
Tony Wales of Quicksilver Bali said his company -- an
\nAustralian-based wetsuit and clothes manufacturer -- will support
\nOka financially.<\/p>\n
\"We will give Oka international-standard equipment.
\nQuicksilver will also cover his expenses during training in
\nAustralia,\" Wales said.<\/p>\n
\"We choose Oka because he meets our criteria. We want to
\nsupport him to become the world windsurfing champion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Quicksilver also gives a monthly salary to Oka as a member of
\nits Bali windsurfing team. This allows him to concentrate on his
\ntraining.<\/p>\n
Despite the support from his sponsor, KONI and the Indonesian
\nYachting and Windsurfing Association, Oka said the most powerful
\nsupport for his career comes from his parents, especially his
\nfather, who introduced him to the sport.<\/p>\n
The 55-year-old Rake Adi shed tears when he described how Oka
\nbegan to like windsurfing.<\/p>\n
\"I was a surfing instructor before Oka was born. I wanted one
\nof my children to follow in my footsteps and I'm glad that Oka
\nwas interested in the sport.<\/p>\n
\"He started to practice windsurfing on an ordinary board.
\nSince then I knew Oka had the talent but I could not finance his
\ntraining. One day, he came up and said I should not worry about
\nmoney. He would find his own way,\" said Rake, now a taxi driver.<\/p>\n
However, Rake opposed Oka's ambition to become a windsurfer.
\nHe wanted his son to study at the Udayana University in Denpasar.<\/p>\n
\"Now I realize that he took the right path and he has become a
\nstar,\" said Rake, who has another son and a daughter.<\/p>\n
His success has made Oka think of grooming his juniors to
\nfollow in his steps, and he now gives windsurfing lessons. \"I'm
\ndoing this to find young talented athletes and I don't do this
\nfor money.\"<\/p>\n
\"I want them to be disciplined. I hate it when my students
\ncome late and I usually punish them by putting them for hours in
\nthe water.\"<\/p>\n
For Oka, windsurfing is not merely a hobby but a career.<\/p>\n
\"Windsurfing has been with me since 1986 when I was only 16. I
\ndon't intend to switch to another sport or job should I be
\noffered,\" said Oka, who also runs a small windsurfing shop.<\/p>",
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