Gift for Gibran

As the notes of “Indonesia Raya” echoed through the arena, Nofrizal burst into tears. He dedicated the medal to Indonesia and Muhammad Gibran Ramadhan, his second-born who had died about three months previously as he was preparing for the Asian Games.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Nofrizal

Indonesia’s 27-year-old sepak takraw athlete, Nofrizal, could not hold back his emotions when he clinched the men’s quadrant team gold at the 2018 Asian Games. As the notes of “Indonesia Raya” echoed through the arena, he burst into tears. He dedicated the medal to Indonesia and Muhammad Gibran Ramadhan, his second-born who had died about three months previously as he was preparing for the Asian Games.

Excitement thundered through Ranau Hall on Saturday (1/9/2018) at the Jakabaring Sports Complex in Palembang, South Sumatra. After a long wait, Indonesia finally won the gold medal after defeating Japan 2-1 in the men’s quadrant final.