Umar wins gold as Indonesia Tiger captures overall title<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Umar Syarif took home one of the two gold medals for the host
\nteam on the final day of the Indonesian Open karate tournament as
\nthe Indonesia Tiger emerged as the overall winner after three
\ndays of heavy competition.<\/p>\n
The tournament, which featured 16 teams from 15 countries,
\nended at the Bung Karno indoor tennis stadium on Thursday with
\nthe Tigers finishing on top with five golds.<\/p>\n
Malaysia also captured the same number of golds but added two
\nsilvers to its medal tally while the Tiger earned five.<\/p>\n
The Indonesia Buffalo, made up of athletes in training camp
\nfor the 2002 Asian Games to be held in Busan, South Korea, ended
\nup in third place with four golds.<\/p>\n
Angela Fitri Damarsari of the Indonesia Buffalo was the other
\ngold medalist from the host squad, winning 8-1 over Indonesia
\nTiger member Dian Purnama Sari in the open female kumite
\ncategory.<\/p>\n
Umar came from behind to overcome Muttalib M. Albargawi of
\nSaudi Arabia in the over-80 kilogram male kumite category.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Indonesian, who felt overlooked in the
\nselection of athletes for the Asian Games, was trailing 2-4
\nbefore he rebounded with a punishing kick and a host of
\nunrelenting punches to send him to a 9-4 victory.<\/p>\n
He promptly told the Indonesian Karate-do Association (Forki)
\nthat he deserved a berth at the Asian Games. Umar had been a
\nnational team ace before his defeat at the 2001 SEA Games, which
\nseemed to cost him his inclusion.<\/p>\n
Forki is grooming six athletes for the Asian Games.<\/p>\n
"Being looked down on and considered an underdog made me
\nrelaxed. I felt no pressure," he commented to The Jakarta Post on
\nhis victory, his lips showing a minor bruise he received in the
\nfight.<\/p>\n
Asked if he was ready to be added to the lineup, he replied
\ndiplomatically: "I have already made karate my career choice. If
\nthey need me for the Asian Games, I would consider it a call to
\nduty."<\/p>\n
Indonesia Tiger head coach Zulkarnaen Purba, at a news
\nconference held earlier, complimented his protege, saying that it
\nwas redeeming for Umar that he is still a force to be reckoned
\nwith.<\/p>\n
"It was not an easy road to the final. And it was even harder
\nbeing up against an Arabian," Purba said.<\/p>\n
Australia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Iran were the other four
\ncountries snagging gold medals, while Sri Lanka and Papua New
\nGuinea returned home with no single medal.<\/p>",
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