Jakarta strikes before PON opening<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Palembang<\/p>\n
Jakarta ruled early in the National Games (PON) by collecting
\nsix gold medals a day before the opening ceremony of the 16th
\nedition of the Games here at Jakabaring Stadium on Thursday.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Jakarta, which had been the dominant force in
\nthe nation's biggest sporting spectacle before East Java toppled
\nit to win the most medals 2000, grabbed another three golds to
\ngive it a total of six overall.<\/p>\n
One gold for Jakarta was contributed by its aging, veteran
\ngymnast Jonathan Sianturi who triumphed in the pommel horse
\nevent. Young gymnast M. Aldila Akbar won the other two golds on
\nthe floor and vault events.<\/p>\n
North Sumatra also won two golds, while East Java, Jambi,
\nRiau, Lampung and West Sumatra took one apiece in the gymnastics
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
Badminton began its team event competition with Taufik
\nHidayat, the only gold winner for Indonesia at the just-concluded
\nAthens Olympics, suffering a stunning defeat to fellow national
\nplayer Wiempie Mahardi but West Java still went through to the
\nnext stage with a 4-1 win over North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
East Java, which lines up Olympic bronze medalist Sony Dwi
\nKuncoro, took the same score in its drubbing of Lampung.<\/p>\n
Diving and tennis also kicked off their competitions a day
\nbefore the opening ceremony. Other sports already playing their
\ncompetitions as of Monday included soccer, basketball,
\nvolleyball, and paragliding.<\/p>\n
In volleyball, defending champion East Java opened its bid
\nwith a convincing 3-0 win over Papua on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
East Java also made a winning start in the basketball by
\ncrushing South Kalimantan 88-25. Another favorite team West Java
\novercame North Sumatra 67-51.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Games torch rounded off its two-week trip
\nacross 13 regencies. The torch, which has covered a total
\ndistance of 997 kilometers, ended its journey with a parade
\ninside the town of Palembang to a welcoming reception of
\nthousands of people.<\/p>\n
It will stay at the Mayoralty Office before it is transferred
\nto light the Games cauldron at the Jakabaring Stadium on Thursday
\n(today).<\/p>\n
About 7,000 athletes from 30 provinces will take part in 41
\nsports. The Games, which is being hosted outside Java for the
\nfirst time in two decades, will run until Sept. 14.<\/p>\n
Jakarta tops the nine other teams in the medal tally with six
\ngolds, four silvers, and a bronze.<\/p>\n
Riau, North Sumatra and Jambi each collected two golds but
\nRiau beat out the other two teams, thanks to an additional silver
\nmedal.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-strikes-before-pon-opening-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}