Indonesia's first Olympic gymnast encourages others to 'dream higher'

Jakarta: Indonesian gymnast Rifda Irfanaluthfi s palms are covered in chalk as she swings between two uneven bars during intensive training just weeks...

Jakarta: Indonesian gymnast Rifda Irfanaluthfi's palms are covered in chalk as she swings between two uneven bars during intensive training just weeks before she makes history at the Paris Olympics.

The 24-year-old is the first Indonesian gymnast to qualify for the Olympics, let alone the first woman, and her mind is set on reaching Paris fully fit so she can etch her name into gymnastics legend at home.

"There is a feeling of excitement. I hope that by qualifying for the Olympics, the world will get to know Indonesia better," she told AFP after training in the capital Jakarta.

"I am also feeling worried because of injuries, it made me have insomnia for the last five days."

Her feat is even more impressive considering Indonesia does not yet have a national training centre for gymnastics and that conservative Indonesian society, including its top sports, remains dominated by men.