Srunita Sari Sukatendel could not hold her tears when the umpire announced her victory in the women’s karate kumite 50-kilograms at the 2017 SEA Games.

She won the gold medal after defeating rival Paweena Raksachart of Thailand. Raksachart had previously bested Srunita in the sport in April.

The 25-year-old cried during the medal ceremony. For her, the victory was not just a personal achievement. It was also a dream come true for her father, a former karateka who never fulfilled his dream of competing on the international stage.

Srunita’s father, Sehukur Peranginangin Sukatendel, had dreamt big as an athlete. He had been told to gear up for an international competition in Peru and so he prepared accordingly. However, close to the departure date, he was cut from the team as Indonesia had a limited number of athletes it could send as part of its delegation.

Born and raised in Karo, North Sumatra, Srunita spent her childhood just like any other child, going to school and hanging out with friends. But at home, she was encouraged to become a karate champion.

In Srunita’s family, apart from her and her father, her mother and younger sister also practiced karate.

“It was my family that always motivated me to practice karate professionally. My father is my sensei,” she said.

Despite being her biggest motivator, Srunita’s father did not attend her competition in Kuala Lumpur. “I would have been very, very nervous had he been present to watch me here,” she said while smiling.

Srunita, who learned karate in third grade, is no stranger to winning. She was the champion of both the2016 Bosphorus Cup in Turkey and the 2013Finland Open.

Family is also important to wushu athlete Lindswell Kwok, who earned a gold medal in the women’s taijijian (Taiji straight sword) category at the SEA Games.

When she was little, Lindswell showed no interest in wushu.

However, her older brother Iwan Kwok, a wushu athlete and official at the Indonesian Wushu Association (PBWI), tirelessly motivated her to learn the Chinese martial art professionally, her mother Nuraini told The Jakarta Post recently.

“It was when she was in third grade in elementary school that her brother, who was studying in China, taught her wushu when he returned,” she said.

Last Monday, Lindswell, who bagged two gold medals at the 2015 SEA Games, finished on top with a score of 9.68, edging out Malaysia’s Yee Jo Audrey Chan, who came second with 9.64.

She won the gold medal despite playing throughinjuries in her both knees. She has suffered from knee problems since2011.

“I am very happy because I gave my best effort despite the injuries,” said Lindswell, who hails from Medan, North Sumatra.

Jakarta swimmer Gagarin Nathaniel Yus said he owes his success to his father Marifa Herman Yus.

After winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m breaststroke final at the National Aquatic Center in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, he said, “I am very happy for finishing as the winner, particularly because my parents watched, including my father who is also my coach.”

In the final, Gagarin, who is studying law at Atmajaya Catholic University in Jakarta, touched the wall at 1 minute and 1.76 seconds, ahead of the Philippines’ Deiparine, who finished second, and Radomyos Matjiur of Thailand, who finished third.

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