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'She Never Gets Tired': Indonesian Dad Hails Daughter's Badminton Gold

Agence France-Presse

   AsAmeruddinPora's relatives gathered in his living room, shouting at
   the final of the Olympics badminton women's doubles, he locked himself
   in his room to watch his daughter win Indonesia's historic gold medal.

   ApriyaniRahayu, 23, and her veteran partnerGreysiaPoliipicked up the
   badminton-mad country's first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo on Monday,
   and its first-ever Olympic medal in the women's doubles.

   "Everyone was screaming with joy outside, I decided to lock myself up
   in my room so that I can focus (on) praying while watching the game
   alone, and Allah heard my prayers. She won the gold medal," 63-year-old
   Pora told AFP on Tuesday a day after his daughter's win.

   Her fellow Indonesians were also celebrating, taking to social media on
   Monday to hail the gold medal win, while President Joko Widodo said the
   victory was a gift for the country'sindependence daythat is slated for
   August 17.

   Pora said his daughter usedthe death ofher mother,Siti Jauharin 2015,as
   fuel for the momentous victory, a gift to the woman who inspired her
   rise to become a professional badminton player.

   One day before flying to Tokyo, Rahayu flew home toKonawecity in
   southeastSulawesi islandto visit her mother's grave and to ask for a
   blessing from her father.

   The badminton star's relatives also came to Pora's house to pray for
   her during the short home visit.

   "She has this tradition whenever she wants to attend a competition, she
   always returns home to meet her parents, asking me for a prayer," he
   said.

   "Our prayers are finally answered by God."

   As soon as Rahayu arrived in Tokyo, she called her dadon a daily
   basisto ask him to continue his prayers for her.

   He said his daughter's success is thanks to a combination of those
   prayers and her own hard work.

   "Whenever she leaves the hotel heading to the venue, she always called
   me asking for prayers. I always tell her to be calm and leave
   everything to Allah," he said.

   He had some advice for his daughter about securing more golds after her
   Olympic win: listen to your coaches and don't become arrogant.

   "She is always a very motivated person. She never gets tired
   practicing," he said.

   "Don't get me wrong, I don't only pray for Rahayu, but also forGreysia.
   I pray for both. They made us proud."

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