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Ready, set, go! Indonesian athletes eye tournaments after receiving vaccine
Athletes are part of the government’s second-phase vaccine recipients, along with the elderly and public workers.
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Indonesian national soccer player Miftahul Hamdi (left) receives his first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine during a national inoculation session held at Istora Senayan in the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex, Central Jakarta, on Feb. 26. The Youth and Sports Ministry teamed up with the Health Ministry in hosting the vaccination drive for members of high-performing sports, including 820 athletes, coaches and officials from 40 sports. (Antara/Aditya Pradana Putra)
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Friday gathering at Istora Senayan in Central Jakarta was the first time in a year the sports arena hosted hundreds of athletes after a frustrating hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But those athletes, representing various sports, were not there to compete. They lined up to receive their first jab of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of the second phase of the government’s vaccination program.
Swimmer I Gede Siman Sudartawa, who specializes in backstroke, said he planned to go straight to the gym after receiving the jab, saying he had not felt any side effects.
“I asked [the health workers] if I could exercise after this, and they said yes as long as I don’t experience any side effects. But if, for example, I get a headache, they suggested that I get some rest,” he said on Friday.
Echoing Siman, sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri cheerfully said he only felt a little sore on the spot where he had received the shot on his arm.
For Zohri, the vaccine could mean a boost in confidence as the young gun had already secured a spot to compete at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. However, tryouts before the big event have yet to be held and he has not received any information about competing in tournaments in the near future.
“Right now, I’m just focusing on training, especially sharpening the technical aspects,” he said. “We can’t [compete] because of the coronavirus. I just treat every practice like a real competition; that’s what keeps me going.”
