Bary Agustini on target in Manila
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post/Manila
Bary Agustini Said failed to make it into the top three in her Southeast Asian (SEA) Games debut in the Philippines in 1991.
On Wednesday, at the same venue where she lost 14 years ago, the mother of three held her nerve to set a new Games record in the women's 10-meter air pistol event and take the gold.
"We competed at the same place but the environment looked to have changed," the mother of three told The Jakarta Post at her Manila hotel after returning from the shooting range in Tagug.
"Of course, I'm happy with the achievement. I'm proud to have watched the Indonesian flag unfurled at the shooting range."
The police captain from Dumai in the Riau archipelago broke the old Games record of 380 points by one point in 40 shots. From another 10 shots, she improved her record to 480.6, beating Panchang Chisaard of Thailand (472.9) and Khin Soe Thaike of Myanmar (471.5).
It was her second SEA Games gold; she also won at the 1997 Jakarta Games in the same event.
The pressure of shooting in a set time period requires a steely disposition, and Bary said she gained her mental strength from God.
"Nervousness is always there when you have only 75 minutes allocated for 40 shots," team manager Hendra Djaja said. "Her experience helped her hold her nerve."
Bary was the last chance at gold for the eight-strong team, which only competed in four of the 25 shooting events.
Agus Supartono in the standard shotgun as well as the duo of Yosheefin Shilla Prasasti and Inca Ferry Wihartanti in team air rifle failed to live up to expectations for medals.
On Monday's first day of competition, Frans Paul won the bronze in the practical shooting competition.
Bary first became involved in competitive shooting when she was 20 and already a member of the police force. "As a policewoman, it seemed I had no option but to take up shooting as my sport."
After the 1997 Games, she continued to compete in the regional multisport event, but it took eight years before she claimed her second gold.
Bary, who declined to give her age and whose oldest child is 16 and youngest 11 months, is not ready to leave the firing line.
"I won't stop training, as long as I can contribute gold for the nation and people," she was quoted as saying by Antara news service.