Perhaps Muhammad Hinayah is the only rock climber athlete who has a fear of heights. Yet he tries to overcome it to be able to perform at his best. His efforts were fruitful in the form of a gold medal in speed relay sport climbing at the 2018 Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang. What drives Hinayah to keep doing the sport despite the acrophobia?
The men’s speed relay sport climbing final at the 2018 Asian Games on Monday (27/8/2018) was an event for Hinayah and other Indonesian athletes to prove their skill. At that time, two Indonesian teams competed in the final, Indonesia I and Indonesia II. The Indonesia I team consisted of Aspar, Sabri, Muhammad Fajri Alfian and Septo Wibowo. The Indonesia II team consisted of Hinayah, Rindi Sufriyanto, Abu Dzar Yulianto and Veddriq Leonardo.
Hinayah was the most impressive. Like a gecko, the 23-year-old climbed to the top in less than six seconds. His time was faster than other teammates and helped Indonesia II get a gold medal in the Asian Games.
During the medal ceremony, when “Indonesia Raya” was played, Hinayah was emotional and burst into tears. The man from South Sumatra not only defeated his rivals but also his fear of heights.
Hinayah is a unique rock climber. Behind his skills, Hinayah has a fear of heights.
He felt his fear of heights since he started focusing on the sport. The fear grew bigger after he had an accident during practice. He fell from 10 meters up, both injuring and traumatizing him. He did not practice for a month.
However, teammates and his coach, including family members, kept supporting Hinayah to continue his career as a rock climber. The support made Hinayah motivated to practice again. He transformed his fear into motivation to perform at his best.
“Since I have a fear of heights, I always try to get to the top as fast as possible. That way I can go back down quickly,” he said, smiling.
Poor family
There was another thing that motivated Hinayah to get a medal in rock climbing: to help his parents Herman, 44, and Arnizah, 44, who were facing hard times financially. His father works as a construction worker, and his income is not sufficient to support his wife and six children, including Hinayah.
“My father was a businessman but he went bankrupt. He did everything to support the family — working as an ojek [motorcycle taxi] driver, working in others\' rice fields and being a construction worker,” Hinayah said.
Realizing the financial hardships that his family was facing, Hinayah decided to continue his career as an athlete. He wanted to improve the family’s welfare through rock climbing.
His decision was correct. He was able to help fulfill his family’s needs. “When I was in junior high school, I joined regional training [Pelatda]. I earned Rp 1.5 million [US$101] a month. I gave the money to my parents to help them,” said Hinayah, who often helps his father working in construction while on break from the training center.
When competing at the Asian Games, Hinayah got additional motivation from the presence of his father in the arena. “It was the first time for my father to watch the event," he said.
He won the gold medal in front of his father. He received a bonus in the form of money and an apartment. Hinayah planned to use part of the bonus to help his parents go on the haj (pilgrimage). He also wanted to build a house and open a kiosk for his parents. “I hope my parents will not work in construction anymore,” he said.
Unexpected
Hinayah started rock climbing in 2004 when he was 9 years old. At that time, Hinayah, who lived in Sekayu, Musi Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra, was attracted to watching rock climbers practicing in Sekayu. Several athletes and coaches trained together. “We just wanted to encourage children to do rock climbing,” said Ahmad Dimyati, one of the coaches, when asked why he invited the children to watch the training.
Hinayah, who liked climbing trees, happily accepted the offer and tried climbing. “From that time, I loved rock climbing,” he said.
Ahmad sensed Hinayah’s talent. He dutifully taught Hinayah, starting from putting on the safety gear to climbing techniques. One big challenge was his fear of heights. Ahmad needed to motivate Hinayah to overcome that fear.
Hinayah was not the best seed at that time. Yet Ahmad saw that Hinayah had intense motivation and never gave up. “When he is given the chance to compete, he surely will give his best,” Ahmad said.
After enrolling in junior high school, Hinayah joined Pelatda. Then he joined the national training program (Pelatnas) in May 2017. Yet he was only a partner for the main athlete. His status as a partner made Hinayah motivated.
Initially, there were eight athletes, men and women, assigned in the training program for the 2018 Asian Games. Then there was a selection process to determine six athletes, men and women, to compete for the Asian Games. Hinayah was selected.
About 15 minutes before the speed rally competition, his name was included in the Indonesia II team. “I did not waste the opportunity,” Hinayah said.
Hinayah kept his promise. He did not waste the opportunity and successfully won the gold medal with his team.
South Sumatra Indonesian Rock Climbing Federation chairman Beni Hernedi said Hinayah’s rise was expected to motivate young people to try rock climbing. The presence of an international-level arena at Jakabaring Sports Complex was also expected to play a role in inspiring new rock climbers in South Sumatra.
Today, there are 15 young athletes from South Sumatra being prepared to participate in some competitions. We hope there will be other “Hinayahs” from the event.
KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI
Muhammad Hinayah
Born: Sekayu, Dec. 17, 1995
Parent: Herman (father), Arnizah (mother)
Education:
Elementary school SD Negeri 04 Sekayu
; Junior high school SMP Negeri 1
; Senior high school SMA PGRI Sekayu
; State vocational school Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya
Achievement:
Gold medal at Asian Games 2018 in Palembang; Bronze medal at Asian championship 2017 in Iran; Fourth place at World Championship 2018
/https%3A%2F%2Fkompas.id%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F09%2F20180914_ENGLISH-SOSOK_B_web.jpg){kind=logo}
/https%3A%2F%2Fkompas.id%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F09%2F20180914_ENGLISH-SOSOK_A_web.jpg){kind=logo}
