Coach Donald steers S'porean archer to victory<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Former national archery coach Donald Pandiangan, who once
\ncomplained that his archers here were easily satisfied and
\nundisciplined, is having better luck in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Donald helped new charge Vinson Heng to the gold in the men's
\ncompound event at the 3rd Asian Archery Grand Prix on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
After collecting his first gold for his country by beating
\nIndian archer Shivnath Nagesia 107-105, the archer gave Donald a
\ngrateful hug.<\/p>\n
\"I am very excited,\" Vinson, 38, said at Bung Karno Archery
\nField in Central Jakarta. \"The support from my coach and my
\ncompatriots helped me win the final match.\"<\/p>\n
It was a good day for Singapore and Donald, who has only been
\ncoaching in the city-state since the middle of the year.<\/p>\n
Singapore's Maryanne Gul also won silver in the women's
\ncompound, losing the final battle against Indian archer Jhanu
\nHansda 96-109.<\/p>\n
The Singapore archers gave Donald a bow of thanks before
\nleaving the field.<\/p>\n
Vinson praised 59-year-old Donald, who was Indonesia's leading
\narcher during the 1970s and '80s, saying he was hard working and
\nhonest.<\/p>\n
\"Donald always pushes us to our highest limit until we
\ncouldn't pass it, then he lowers the limit,\" he said. \"We are
\nvery lucky to have him as our coach.\"<\/p>\n
Indian archer Naresh Damor took the bronze by defeating
\nSingaporean Ray Lee 110-108.<\/p>\n
Donald said his athletes performed better in practice than in
\ncompetition. \"The mental (strength) and concentration of my
\nathletes aren't stable yet.\"<\/p>\n
Although Donald coached the national women's team to the
\ncountry's first ever Olympic medal -- a silver -- at the 1988
\nOlympics, he has complained about the attitude of the athletes.<\/p>\n
\"They want the prestige but they don't want to work for it,\"
\nhe told Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily in September 2003 when he
\nreturned to coaching the national team after a 15-year hiatus..<\/p>\n
\"I have to find stimulation in order to coach today's
\nathletes. Or perhaps I'm just not suited to coaching the athletes
\nof today.\"<\/p>\n
Some of his former proteges were shut out of the medals on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Harry Suliztiarto, Herry Pariana, Syafruddin Mawi, Gatot
\nAriyanto and Nicolous Chandra lost in the first round, while
\nHendra Setiawan, Fauzi Hocktaji and IGNP Praditta fell in second
\nround of the men's compound.<\/p>\n
In women's compound, Kusumawardhani, Lilies Herliati and
\nNurfitriana Lantang lost in the first round, while Lilies
\nHandayani lost in the second round.<\/p>\n
National archery chairman Taufiqurahman said that he was still
\noptimistic about the country's chances of winning gold in the
\nSoutheast Asia (SEA) Games in November.<\/p>\n
\"We will send them to Korea to practice better ahead of SEA
\nGames,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Grand Prix finals end on Thursday.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/coach-donald-steers-sporean-archer-to-victory-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }