RI karatekas grab no golds but net three silvers, three bronzes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Novilus Tedius Yoku and Sonny Simangasing
\ncontributed on Thursday more medals for Indonesia on the second
\nday of the Asian Union Karate Organization (AUKO) championships
\nin Singapore.<\/p>\n
Irianese-born Novilus, the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
\ngold medalist in the men's open class, earned a silver after
\nlosing to Ka Firaee 2-4 of Iran in the below 75-kilogram class.
\nJapanese karateka Nakahiro Niki and Hsu Hsiang Ming of Chinese
\nTaipei shared the bronze medal.<\/p>\n
Sonny, the SEA Games bronze medalist in the men's below 70-kg
\nclass, took the bronze in the below 60-kg division. Anuzadeh
\nMehdi of Iran grabbed the gold, trailed by Japan's Yasu Hariu who
\nwon the silver.<\/p>\n
Overall, Indonesia earned three silvers and three bronzes. The
\ntally is disappointing compared to the country's achievement two
\nyears ago when it earned two golds at the same event.<\/p>\n
On the opening day on Wednesday, the men's kumite team of
\nNovilus, Sonny, Umar Syarif, Hasan Basri and Arif Taufan
\nSyamsuddin and the women's kata team of Endang Trimurti
\nWulandari, Merani Mega and Fitria Mega Sjaukat contributed two
\nsilver medals. Both teams won gold in August at the SEA Games in
\nBrunei Darussalam.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also earned on the first day of the event silver
\nfrom the men's kata team comprising Aswan Ali, Elias Tande and
\nWahyu Widayat, and a bronze from Fitria in the women's individual
\nkata.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Indonesian Karate-Do Federation
\n(Forki), Hendardji Supandji, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday
\nthat the karatekas had competed to the best of their ability at
\nthe championships.<\/p>\n
\"They have worked hard. We can't estimate results in karate.
\nWe have not set any target at the championships. However, the
\nthree karatekas managed to enter the finals and their
\nperformances were not disappointing,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, Iran is the 1998 world champion,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old police officer Novilus said that he was proud
\nhe could outclass the Japanese karateka.<\/p>\n
\"I am very proud to outshine Japanese karateka. It's always
\nbeen my personal ambition to beat Japan in each competition,
\nalthough Iranians are still the ones to beat on my way to gold,\"
\nhe was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Umar, Hasan and Taufan failed to shine in the men's individual
\nkumite.<\/p>\n
\"I suffered an injury, but my coach ordered me to perform.
\nLook at the result, I only accommodated my rival's attack during
\nthe match as if I was only a ball to kick around,\" said Umar, who
\nearned a bronze in the over 80-kg class at the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Sandra Aryani, who was expected to add to Indonesia's medal
\ntally in the women's individual kumite, also failed on Thursday
\nin her bid. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-karatekas-grab-no-golds-but-net-three-silvers-three-bronzes-1447893297",
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