The Indonesia Records Museum is awarding 19-year-old Michael Rosihan Yacub for his dedication to golf, declaring him the only registered golfer with Down syndrome in Asia.
The awards ceremony will take place this Sunday.
Since he was two, Michael has been a regular at a Pondok Indah golf club in South Jakarta, his mother, Aryanti Yacub said.
Aryanti said Michael had been awarded many trophies by the Pondok Indah Golf Tournament.
In 2004, Michael was accepted to compete in the Members Monthly Tournament at the Pondok Indah Golf Championships.
Michael said he was honored by the opportunity after he competed in the tournament.
His mother said he would be ecstatic to receive the award from the museum.
Aryanti, who is the Indonesian Down Syndrome Association (ISDI) chairwoman, said Michael had been following his sports-mad older brothers, Marco and Marcel, since he was a toddler.
"I can barely remember when he began to play golf, probably since he could walk," she said.
Aryanti said Michael's golf skill had improved over the years.
"Now he plays all 18 holes with a good score.
"He has been known to get bogeys, pars and even eagles."
Aryanti said she nominated her son for the award.
She said she approached the museum and was asked to provide evidence and documentation of his achievements.
The museum, which was established in 1990, said it would honor Michael's achievements with an award after one month of observation.
The museum's manager, Sri Widayati, said it decided that Michael's success was worthy of the honor.
In general, about 40 percent of children with Down syndrome suffer heart defects.
The genetic mutation causing Down syndrome can also cause misalignment of the body, making it impossible, or highly risky, to participate in sports.
It is estimated that over 300,000 people in Indonesia are currently living with Down syndrome.
Alexandra Hansen is an intern at The Jakarta Post.
