One of the biggest competitions in Southeast Asia, the 2022 ASEAN Para Games had officially been held on July 30, 2022. These athletes with disabilities from all ASEAN countries would meet and compete with each other until August 6, 2022, in Solo, Central Java. The purpose of holding the ASEAN Para Games was to provide a forum for athletes with disabilities to develop their potential.

Universitas Diponegoro students also contributed silver and gold medals in the Para Swimming sport at the 2022 ASEAN Para Games, Thursday (04/07) and Friday (05/07). Tara Athaya Yasykur, who was often called Tara, was an Undip student of the Communication Science program class of 2021 who won a silver medal in the Women’s SB12 100-meter Breaststroke and a 50-meter S12 Freestyle gold medal in the 2022 ASEAN Para Swimming Para Games.

There was an interesting story behind this extraordinary achievement. Previously, Tara had never had any intention to make any achievement in swimming. However, when she won the provincial championship in junior high school, she thought about pursuing her hobby until then. Tara said that this was the first time she participated in the Asean Para Games event, precisely in the Para Swimming sport. Breaststroke was not her main swimming style but, considering the limited number of participants, she was forced to take the number and managed to win a silver medal.

Being one of the participants in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games competition and winning silver and gold medals was not easy. Tara revealed that she received a lot of positive support from the people around her.

“I always remember my initial goal of doing this preparation, all training and so on, are to trigger my spirit to keep trying, as well as prayers and support from the closest people who are very influential in a series of my success processes,” she said.

To balance hobbies and studies, good time management was the solution. On the sidelines of her busy life as an Undip Communication Science student, she still managed to find time to pursue her hobby, which was swimming.

“the online lectures had made it easier for me to manage my time for attending lectures and training. Like when the training is done in the morning, I can still attend lectures and do my homework after the training is over, and vice versa when the training is done in the afternoon, I take classes or lectures before I start training, “explained Tara.

“If we have dreams or desires, don’t be pessimistic, we have to try and fight for them. If we don’t try, how will we know, even if we fail, we should remain optimistic, that’s a common thing, the important thing is to never stop trying and trying. We must believe that the effort will never betray the results. What we strive for will be paid off at the right time, always pray, cheer up everyone!!” she said encouragingly. (Afifah-PR)

Source: undip.ac.id