Adji Gilang Riano Ariaputra: Turning Failure into Success
Adji Gilang Riano Ariaputra, also known as Gilang, is a young softball athlete with an inspiring story. Born in Jakarta on July 4, 2001, Gilang has shown his dedication and passion in facing various obstacles in his life.
Since childhood, Gilang has been an active child who loves to move. He tried various sports, from soccer, basketball, swimming, to badminton, before finally finding softball as a sport that gave him satisfaction. At the age of four, Gilang joined a baseball trial at Gelora Bung Karno Field, with encouragement from his mother. Feeling at home in the sport, Gilang continued to pursue it and joined the Garuda club. Although he is aware of his shortcomings, Gilang has the ability to learn from his mistakes and continue to improve himself until he is finally able to excel.
Entering middle school, Gilang got an offer from his coach to join the softball extracurricular at his school, considering the many opportunities to participate in national softball tournaments from the extracurricular. Unlike baseball, Gilang felt that softball was more appropriate for him who liked fast-paced games and strategy. His skills developed rapidly until finally Gilang again received an offer to participate in the selection of the DKI Jakarta Provincial softball core team. With maximum effort, Gilang passed the selection stage and joined the DKI Jakarta Provincial Team.
He has participated in various tournaments, both at the national and international levels. One of his proudest moments was when he won an individual award at the Makassar Baseball Softball Association (MSBA) match in June 2023. He bought three of the four awards at once, namely The Best Slugger, The Best Hitter, and The Most RBI. Prestasi ini sangat mengesankan, mengingat softball adalah olahraga tim. Tidak hanya itu, Gilang bersama tim perwakilan Provinsi DKI Jakarta juga berhasil meraih medali emas.
In his long journey as a softball athlete, Gilang has experienced many ups and downs. The passing of his father just before the 2023 National Sports Week began greatly affected his motivation. But with strong determination and support from his mother, Gilang and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Team won the gold medal in the competition. He dedicated the victory to his late father.
Currently, Gilang is recovering from a leg muscle injury he sustained during his last competition. Despite this condition, Gilang remains energized and does not stop contributing. He still makes time to exercise in the midst of his busy schedule of lectures and organizational activities. He aims to prove that athletes can also be successful in academics and organizations. Currently, he is involved in various organizations on campus, including the Communication Science Student Association, BEM Fikom Unpad, as well as being the vice chairman of UKM UBSU (Unpad Baseball & Softball Unit).
Gilang emphasized the importance of not being afraid to fail. For him, failure is an experience and learning that can certainly be taken to be better in the future. Gilang’s inspiring story is a clear example that with passion, hard work, and strong determination, one can overcome all obstacles and achieve success in various aspects of life. He is proof that athletes can also be successful off the field. (TDF)
