Indonesian windsurfer Oka called back for one last ride in Asiad

I Gusti Made Oka Sulaksana was supposed to make his final Asian Games appearance in 2006 at Doha, Qatar.

Oka Sulaksana won't retire from windsurfing just yet.

Oka, one of Indonesia's most decorated athletes, began mulling over his retirement from windsurfing after winning Asian Beach Games gold in 2008.

He might have to put those plans on hold, though, after the Indonesian Sailing Federation (Porlasi) asked the 39-year-old to don the country's colours one last time at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

"Oka is still the best in the country. I hope he can bring back the Asian Games gold medal this year," Porlasi President Djoko Pramono said on Monday (February 22).

Djoko said Oka would compete in men's mistral heavy, his preferred class, but Porlasi had yet to send an official invitation to join the national team.

If Oka answers Indonesia's call for the games, which take place on November 12-27, it will be his fourth Asiad in a career that began when he was 13. He won his first medal for the country when he took bronze at the 1989 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia at age 18 before going on to win SEA Games gold in 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2003.

The Balinese windsurfer then won back-to-back Asian Games gold, taking top spot in his Asiad debut in Bangkok in 1998 and in Busan, South Korea, in 2002. He won bronze in 2006 after finishing behind China's Yao Xinhao and Ho Chi Ho of Hong Kong.

Oka also competed in the Summer Olympics in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008, finishing 27th at the Beijing Games.

"I never thought that I could still compete in the Asian Games," Oka said in a phone interview on Monday. "I've barely competed since the Asian Beach Games, and the mistral class has been scarcely competed internationally."

Just like every born champion, though, he wants to live up to his standards and go out on top.

"I want to be the best in my last Asian Games," Oka said.

Since the 2008 Beach Games on Bali, the veteran has spent most of his time teaching young sailors and windsurfers in his hometown of Sanur.

Oka's main problem is a lack of international competition or information on his opposition. His first international performance this year was at the Singapore Open Windsurfing Championships on January 7, where he finished seventh overall. He was in first after four of 11 races before withdrawing with an illness.

He said Porlasi must meet his demands if it truly wants him back in the national team.

"I need a Coach and experienced training partners who can give me information about the latest developments in the sport," Oka said. "I also need help to find mistral equipment because I've found they are hard to find."

Guangzhou will likely be Oka's last Asian Games, but it may not be his last performance for Indonesia. He could still represent the country when it hosts the SEA Games in 2011.

"I think I must give a gold to the country because in Southeast Asia we're still the strongest (in windsurfing)," he said.

Then will he retire?

"Those will definitely be my last Asian and SEA Games, but I don't think you can retire from the sea," he said. "I'm working on a project to lure more young talent to the sports."

He is also trying to fulfill his dream of building a national sailing centre on Bali.

"I'm still trying to find a good spot for the centre on Bali and have been asking the Bali government to help me out," Oka said. "I hope it will come true in the near future."