Endang breaks gold medal drought<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post\/Mandaue City, Cebu<\/p>\n
Underrated Endang Sri Lestari Nugrohowati delivered the
\ncountry's first gold medal in judo on Friday in what is likely to
\nbe her swan song in the binennial multisport competition.<\/p>\n
Competing in the final bout of the day, Endang overcame
\nVietnamese Nguyen Thi Kieu with a nippon with only two minutes
\nleft in their under 57 kg contest.<\/p>\n
After she was declared the winner, the 30 year old looked
\ntoward the Indonesian contingent, broke into tears and pointed to
\nher chest, signifying that she won the gold for the nation.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't expect to win this gold because people said my
\nopponents were better than me,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"But I prayed during the match for God to allow me to do my
\nbest, and the result was gold.\"<\/p>\n
Her victory was consolation after the shock defeat of Krisna
\nBayu in the men's 100 kg event on Thursday -- a defeat the
\nIndonesian camp blamed on unfair refereeing.<\/p>\n
\"We lost one gold yesterday, but we won one gold today,\"
\nnational team manager Yorry Yance Worang said, acknowledging that
\nEndang was not included in the target of three gold.<\/p>\n
\"We hope Endang's win will encourage other athletes in the
\nlast two days to win more golds.\"<\/p>\n
Endang, who hails from Surakarta, Central Java, plans to
\nretire after the Games. She holds a university degree in
\neconomics but is currently unemployed.<\/p>\n
She requested that the administration of her hometown find her
\na job.<\/p>\n
\"This is my last gold in the SEA Games. It is enough for me
\nafter I won gold in Malaysia four years ago and bronze in Hanoi
\ntwo years ago,\" Endang said. \"After this, I don't know what I
\nwill do, but I hope the Solo (Surakarta) administration will
\ngrant me a position.\"<\/p>\n
Thai Kanda Jindasawat and Aye Aye Thin of Myanmar took the
\nbronze.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Dwi Sihmanto contributed a silver medal in the men's
\nunder 90 kgs after he lost by an ippon to Myanmar's Zin Lin Aung.
\nDwi was too tentative, giving opportunities for his opponent to
\nattack.<\/p>\n
Thai athlete Wuttikrai Srisoprap and Tan Chee Keong of
\nMalaysia won the bronze.<\/p>\n
There was misfortune for Maya Fransisca, who suffered a left
\nknee injury during her bout.<\/p>\n
Team doctor Edison Siregar said it was a severe injury that is
\nlikely to require surgery.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Anggoro (-81 kgs) lost in the bronze medal
\nplayoff to Malaysian Chong Wai Keat.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Indonesia's Peter Taslim will compete in the
\nmen's under 66 kgs, Johannes Taslim in the men's under 73 kgs and
\nTina Feryani in the women's under 63 kgs.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/endang-breaks-gold-medal-drought-1447893297",
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