Young Helda wins first gymnastic gold in Darwin<\/p>\n
By Primastuti Handayani<\/p>\n
DARWIN, Australia (JP): Finally, the Indonesia Raya anthem was
\nplayed at the Darwin High School arena as Helda Sulistina won the
\nfirst gold in gymnastic yesterday.<\/p>\n
The 12-year-old gymnast, who is the youngest in the national
\ncontingent, took first position after finishing the all round
\nindividual event with 32.465 points while senior Sherly
\nNovitasari grabbed the bronze with 31.832. Malaysia's Chang Zhi
\nWei bagged silver with 32.065.<\/p>\n
Although gymnastic training director Frederick Huma, had said
\nearlier the four artistic gymnasts -- Sherly, Eliningsih, Nurfiana
\nAkhmadi and Helda -- were not given targets for the Games, they
\nproved themselves to be the best among the biennial event
\nparticipants.<\/p>\n
\"Their participation at the Arafura Games is a tryout for the
\n19th Southeast Asian Games. The more they compete, the more
\nexperience they will get,\" he said<\/p>\n
Russian coach Ioury Kouznetzov said Helda deserved the gold.<\/p>\n
\"Of course she deserved the medal. Definitely yes. She
\nperformed very well today and much better than yesterday. She did
\nnot make mistakes much. I'm very glad,\" said Kouznetzov, who
\nkissed Helda after she finished beautifully on the balance beam.<\/p>\n
Helda, who looked surprised when she was announced winner,
\ncollected 8.833 points on the vault, 7.50 on the uneven bars,
\n7.86 on the balance beam and 8.26 on the floor.<\/p>\n
\"It's my second gold. The first one I won at the Southeast
\nAsian Confederation championships in Manila earlier this year,\"
\nHelda said.<\/p>\n
\"But this is the first in the individual event. I got the
\nfirst one in the team's event,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old Sherly collected 8.250 points on the vault,
\n7.266 on the uneven bars, 7.68 on the balance beam and 8.63 on
\nthe floor.<\/p>\n
Unbeatable<\/p>\n
Indonesian second string shuttlers were unbeatable in
\nyesterday's semifinals and set up four all-Indonesian finals
\ntoday at the Nightcliff High School arena.<\/p>\n
Lydia Djaelawidjaja crashed Ye Yin Hao of Hainan, China, 11-4,
\n11-0 in the women's singles. Junior Yuli Marfuah had to work to
\novercome China's Rong Yi 6-11, 11-7, 11-7.<\/p>\n
Men's shuttler Hendrawan, who had a walkover win against
\nChina's Lu Jin Ming because of an injury, will play compatriot
\nNunung Subandoro.<\/p>\n
Nunung beat China's Chen Ping 15-7, 15-6.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's women's doubles pair Yuli\/Lydia beat Malaysian
\npair Ooi May Fen\/Fui Cheng 15-3, 15-2 while, Nonong\/Carmelita
\nbeat China's Rong Yi\/Ye Yin Hao 15-2, 15-10.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's mixed doubles pair of Rudy Wijaya\/Carmelita had to
\nfight to beat Singapore's Patrick Lau\/Chin Yen Peng 15-11, 17-14.<\/p>\n
Rudy\/Carmelita will play teammate Seng Kok Keong\/Nonong, who
\nbeat Singaporeans Tan Sian Peng\/Zanetta Lee 15-4, 15-9.<\/p>\n
Men's doubles pair Rudy\/Seng, who beat Singapore's Eric
\nLau\/Desmond Tan 15-0, 15-3, will face Singapore's Patrick Tan\/Tan
\nSian Peng, who had a walkover win over China's Chen Ping\/Lu Jin
\nMing.<\/p>\n
Indonesian boxers Damianus Jordan, Meckson Barataman and
\nWilpare Jamhur cruised to today's finals, while teammate Deddy
\nMikaso lost to New South Wales' Simon Peterson.<\/p>\n
Damianus and Meckson beat Johor's Hamid and Papua New Guinea's
\nSteven Eleas with technical knockouts.<\/p>\n
Wilpare beat New South Wales Matthew Pauley 3-2.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/young-helda-wins-first-gymnastic-gold-in-darwin-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }