Sport Ministry Send Becak Driver to Compete in Athletics in Chile

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Youth and Sports Ministry (Kemenpora) sends a 82-year-old becak (pedicab) driver Darmiyanto to compete in World Masters Athletic Championship for veterans in Santiago, Chile, South America on November 24, 2017.

In the championship, Darmiyanto will compete in short-, middle-, and long-distance running.

"We hope Pak Darmiyanto inspires people to exercise regularly to stay healthy and fit in old age," Deputy Minister for Sports Empowerment Raden Isnanta said in Jakarta on Saturday (21/10).

Darmiyanto is a becak driver in Salatiga, Central Java. He always runs 11 kilometers from his house in Krando Lor Village to his becak base in Salatiga.

He also runs back from Salatiga to his house.

"That is why I’m healthy even though I’m old," Darmiyanto, usually addressed as Pak Dar, said.

This grandfather of 10 grandchildren occasionally participates in athletic competition and receives invitation to compete abroad. He has been awarded 171 medals and nine trophies.

Before competing in Chile, Pak Dar participated in a running competition in Perth, Australia, onNovember 6, 2016 followed by 80 countries. He earned a bronze medal for 400 meter distance running in the mater athletic category.

For that competition, Darmiyanto was also sent by the ministry facilitated by Indonesia Master Athletic Association (PAMI).

ANTARA