Jumadi, Indonesia's Oldest Para Athlete, Prioritizes Para Chess Team's Victory

PRESS RELEASE

Number: 78/08/ASEANPARAGAMES/2022

Solo - Age and physical limitations do not prevent someone from continuing to succeed. Jumadi, the oldest Indonesian para-athlete in the 2022 ASEAN Para Games Solo, seems to be the right person to attribute this statement to.

Jumadi, who comes from Banyumanik in Semarang, represented Indonesia in the para chess competition for all classifications VI-B2 or individuals with low vision impairment. He won silver and made a significant impact despite being 61 years old.

Jumadi claimed that he had failed to win gold from the individual numbers because he placed more importance on the team's success. However, he had won silver through the men's team standard number VI-B2 and helped his partner win gold.

"In team chess, you have to be in harmony so that you can win in the individual and team numbers. I was only able to win in the team number with Adji Hartono and Gayuh Satrio," Jumadi made this statement following a recent game at the Solo, Lorin Hotel.

"I'm happy to be able to win gold since this is my first time taking part in an event like this. I'm happy just to have been able to win a gold medal for Indonesia," he added.

Started with his love for chess. Jumadi then studied tactics after completing high school. He was successful in winning competitions at the national level, such as PraPON, but the 2022 ASEAN Para games Solo was his first international event.

Jumadi was listed as a Central Java chess player who had a normal condition and frequently competed in championships prior to joining the Indonesian NPC team. He might therefore claim that in para chess tournaments, his opponents were easier than in regular chess tournaments.

"In a general chess tournament, the opponents were tough and the prizes were smaller. However, I also have numerous medals at home I won before my eyes were troubled," said Jumadi, whose motorcycle accident in Temanggung had left his eyes strained.

Because of his experience in general chess tournaments, Jumadi also admitted that he had become more independent when preparing for his participation in the 2022 ASEAN Para games Solo. However, he asserted that playing chess is not necessarily about developing one's mind.

"I trained for this event for two hours every day. The coach, however, is not overly concerned with me because he believes I have a lot of general chess experience," explained the two children's father.

"My feet occasionally hurt as I become older, so I normally go for a stroll to keep myself in shape. Just now, for instance, I walked a short distance around the field before the match," Jumadi, who also works in marketing, added.

At the 2022 ASEAN Para games Solo, Jumadi and his colleagues managed to win 13 gold, 19, silver, and 8 bronze medals. These achievements also made the Red and White team win the overall title in para chess.

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