Next step Olympics 2000 gold, says windsurfer Oka

By Lukman Natanagara

KUTA, Bali (JP): For an athlete, winning an Olympic Games gold medal is the ultimate ambition. This is certainly the case for I Gusti Made Oka Sulaksana, Indonesia's top windsurfer.

Oka won the gold medal in the 13th Asian Games in Pattaya, Thailand, late last year. The Asiad has been recognized as the second biggest multi-sports event after the Olympics. Next year in Sydney, the Balinese will try to make his dream come true.

"My target is to win the Sydney Olympics 2000 gold. Of course it's not an easy job, that's why I have trained harder," said Oka, who finished in 13th position in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

As a part of his preparations for the quadrennial event, Oka continually practices at the Kuta and Sanur beaches. He trains from 5:00 to 10:00 a.m. in the morning, and usually jogs before training.

Oka, a devoted Hindu, also avoids smoking, alcohol and fatty foods.

He will also compete in the World Championships legs in New Caledonia and Argentina, which are the qualifying events for the Olympics.

Oka's reputation as a world-class windsurfer was not gained easily. He started the sport at the age of 13, using an old surfboard with a bamboo mast.

Born in Bali on April 29, 1971, Oka won his first competition in the 1986 Bali Open. In the same year, he finished second in the Singapore Open.

In 1987, he retained his title in the Bali Open. He also competed in an international tournament in France, finishing in 20th position.

Oka -- who is married to Made Dwi Arini and has one daughter, Gusti Ayu Chandra Pertiwi -- has seen his career continue to escalate. His highest achievement was at the Asian Games last year. Due to his success, he received the Best Male Athlete award from the National Sports Council (KONI), the Jakarta chapter of Indonesian Sports Journalists and state-owned TVRI.

Oka said he was not easily satisfied with his success.

"I never want to give up. I will always look for victories."

Although receiving the award, Oka could not hide his disappointment with KONI, which he considers does not pay him enough attention.

"I have requested financial help from KONI but I think they just ignored it. I am lucky to have Quicksilver as my sponsor. I appreciate their support," Oka said.

Tony Wales of Quicksilver Bali said his company -- an Australian-based wetsuit and clothes manufacturer -- will support Oka financially.

"We will give Oka international-standard equipment. Quicksilver will also cover his expenses during training in Australia," Wales said.

"We choose Oka because he meets our criteria. We want to support him to become the world windsurfing champion," he said.

Quicksilver also gives a monthly salary to Oka as a member of its Bali windsurfing team. This allows him to concentrate on his training.

Despite the support from his sponsor, KONI and the Indonesian Yachting and Windsurfing Association, Oka said the most powerful support for his career comes from his parents, especially his father, who introduced him to the sport.

The 55-year-old Rake Adi shed tears when he described how Oka began to like windsurfing.

"I was a surfing instructor before Oka was born. I wanted one of my children to follow in my footsteps and I'm glad that Oka was interested in the sport.

"He started to practice windsurfing on an ordinary board. Since then I knew Oka had the talent but I could not finance his training. One day, he came up and said I should not worry about money. He would find his own way," said Rake, now a taxi driver.

However, Rake opposed Oka's ambition to become a windsurfer. He wanted his son to study at the Udayana University in Denpasar.

"Now I realize that he took the right path and he has become a star," said Rake, who has another son and a daughter.

His success has made Oka think of grooming his juniors to follow in his steps, and he now gives windsurfing lessons. "I'm doing this to find young talented athletes and I don't do this for money."

"I want them to be disciplined. I hate it when my students come late and I usually punish them by putting them for hours in the water."

For Oka, windsurfing is not merely a hobby but a career.

"Windsurfing has been with me since 1986 when I was only 16. I don't intend to switch to another sport or job should I be offered," said Oka, who also runs a small windsurfing shop.