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Raysha Dhamatra — big fish in a small pond
Raysha Dhamatra - JP/Seto WardhanaBekasi kid Raysha Dhamatra decided to represent Papua in the 2016 National Games and she contributed a gold medal in in-line skating to give the 2020 Games host something to be proud of
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Raysha Dhamatra - JP/Seto Wardhana
Bekasi kid Raysha Dhamatra decided to represent Papua in the 2016 National Games and she contributed a gold medal in in-line skating to give the 2020 Games host something to be proud of.
Raysha, a big fish hailing from West Java in the small pond of Papua, said she took the offer from the province to play for it in the Games.
“I was being recommended to represent Papua and then I did it. Everyone at [the Papua sports council] is very nice and supportive. I am very grateful to be here,” the 11th grader at SMA 1 Bekasi state senior high school told The Jakarta Post recently.
Raysha nailed the gold medal in women’s individual time trial 1,000-m on Sept. 23 after clocking 1 minute 34.644 seconds, sharing the medal with Central Java Denta Iswara Kiranasari.
The silver medal went to Jakartan Eri Marina (1 minute and 32.240 seconds), while the bronze was snatched by Salma Falya Niluh of West Java (1 minute and 36.732 seconds) at the Saparua sports center in Bandung.
Raysha was relieved that she could win the medal.
“I was prepared to give my best. Thank God I got out with a medal in the bag,” said Raysha, who was first introduced to the sport when she was in the fourth grade.
In the Games, Raysha mentioned athletes from Jakarta and Central Java as her main competitors.
As the youngest child in the family, Raysha is the only one in the family who was into sports. She initially took up in-line skating as a hobby, but later switched to being a serious athlete after receiving full support from a businessman father and a prosecutor mother.
For the National Games, Raysha undertook intensive training for six months with four hours of exercise each day to sharpen her skills.
Although not planning to coach in the future, Raysha loves to boost the morale of her juniors through example and words.
“Take your training regime seriously and stay solid with your friends,” advised Raysha, who said she receives a lot of love from close friends and that brought her success.
Looking at the future, Raysha admitted that enrolling in a medical school has crossed her mind.
That’s why she would use the cash bonus she got from winning to go to her dream school.
“However, I still don’t know about the future, but for now I still want to be an athlete and be a supportive friend for my teammates,” she said, adding that she might also take her mother’s suggestion: enrolling in law school.
