Asian power lifting records tumble at PON
JAKARTA (JP): Herculean efforts marked the opening day of the 14th National Games (PON) power lifting competition yesterday with two of West Kalimantan's muscle women breaking Asian records on their way to gold medals.
Asteriati, in the 44-kilogram division, shook the stage with her 150kg squat to break the Asian record of 145kgs, held by Yang Shu Ju of Chinese Taipei.
The 21-year-old's total score of 362kgs also broke a four-year-old Asian record, held by Chamundeshwari of India.
Heni Rahayu of West Java finished second in the division with a total of 330kgs after squatting 140kgs, bench-pressing 57.5kgs and dead-lifting 132.5kgs. The bronze medal went to a lifter from South Kalimantan with 327.5kgs.
More Asian records fell in the women's 48kg category. Tumirah of West Kalimantan lifted a total of 400kgs to break Chang Lai Hsiu's Asian record by 17.5kgs. Chang is from Thailand.
The Asian dead-lift record of 160kgs, held by Kazakhstan's Bitebaeva, was also shattered thanks to Dewi Noralisa of Riau who successfully raised 167.5kgs.
Marlina of Lampung broke an Asian record when she squatted 160kgs to beat Kazakhstani Bitebaeva's lift by 5Kgs.
Marlina lifted a total of 400kgs, but the gold medal went to 20-year-old Tumirah on weight advantage. Tumirah weighed 46.65kgs, 55 grams lighter than Marlina, who settled for silver. Dewi took the bronze medal with 395kgs.
Power lifting, an off-shoot of weight lifting, offers 15 gold medals -- nine for men and six for women -- at this year's National Games.
Rowing
In the rowing at the Jatiluhur dam in Purwakarta, West Java, Southeast Sulawesi and Central Kalimantan shared the glory yesterday.
Jamaludin and Mohammad Anwar won the first gold medal for Southeast Sulawesi when they won the men's lightweight coxed pair 2,000m in 7:11.52. The rowers then joined forces with Juli Hahyudin and Bambang to earn another gold medal in the coxless fours. Lasmin won the province's third gold medal in the singles sculls.
Central Kalimantan took its gold medal tally to four, thanks to its women's rowers. The duo of Weni Riani and Jariah won the coxed pairs in 8:28.56. Jariah also teamed up with Neliwati in the coxless pairs to win a gold medal in 7:57.10.
On Thursday, Central Kalimantan rowers won two gold medals, leaving their Southeast Sulawesi arch rivals empty handed on the first day of the rowing competition.
Fritsman and Bagyo Santoso won the coxed pairs for Kalimantan on Thursday, then their female teammates, Yuliati, Tuah, Tuti and Neliwati won the coxless fours.
Southeast Sulawesi expects to win more gold medals in the kayaking which starts today. Nine gold medals are up for grabs in the Kayaking at this year's Games. (amd)