Though his name can't be found in any global rankings, table tennis athlete Muhammad Rian Prahasta is confident that he can defeat his world-ranked opponents at the ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines in March.
hat his name is not listed in any world rankings of para-athletes in table tennis has not held back Muhammad Rian Prahasta, who has just one goal at the ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines in March next year: to win gold.
“I am up and ready. Thanks to the long yet effective time spent training, I have been able to study many playing scenarios while training my endurance at the same time. God willing, I am optimistic about bringing home three gold medals,” Rian told The Jakarta Post during a recent visit.
He acknowledged that his name could not be found in any rankings since he had yet to compete in a world-class table tennis competition. He said a lack of funding and sponsorships was the reason behind this.
“Therefore, I learned to know my place. I may not be able to attain world-class dreams as a para-athlete, but I will do my best for whatever is within reach.”
Despite this, Rian has been able to walk the walk. He brought home two gold medals – one in singles, one in team – from the 2017 ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur. At the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, he bagged a gold and a silver.
Thanks to the medals, he said, he was able to build a two-story house in Sumedang, West Java, his hometown. He also bought a car. Rian, now also a civil servant candidate at the Youth and Sports Ministry, has a left leg that is bigger than his right.
“I will ask for a replacement once I get the promotion as a civil servant. I want to stay in Sumedang with my family,” he said.
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