Bayu wins his PON seventh
Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post/Palembang
Judo veteran Krisna Bayu wins his career seventh gold in the National Games to give host South Sumatra one of the two golds collected on the second day of competition on Friday.
The second gold was contributed by Catarin Kalalo in the fin- swimming to make amend for her failure on Thursday.
Jakarta remained topped the medal tally with 12 gold medals followed by former PON hosts West Java and North Sumatra, who emerged the most gold winners on the day, in second and third respectively.
The two teams garnered the same gold with eight but West Java, PON host in 1961, outscored 1951 host North Sumatra by taking three silvers against one.
Both West Java and North Sumatra ended the day's compeitition, winning four golds apiece.
After winning three golds on Thursday, West Java continued its onslaught in the fin-diving with another two victories through Nania Gozali and Kevin Angga.
Ira Purnama Sari won the women's +78 of the judo event and the other gold was struck from the equestrian field.
North Sumatran triumphed at the Pertamina sports hall, striking triple victory in the wushu event, courtesy of Nurdiana, Zainab and Howandi Santoso.
Deny Zulfrendi beat Niki Maretama in the men's +100 kilogram of the judo competition to hand the team the other gold.
While West Java and North Sumatra enjoyed their winning moments, South Sumatra had its own to cheer with local fans coming to the judo venue to watch Bayu win his gold.
Bayu, whose Olympic bid crashed early in Athens, has so far collected seven golds for three different teams in PON: Central Java, West Java and South Sumatra.
The Host made a surprise in the team dual sheet duration flight by winning the gold on Friday, defeating favorite Jakarta.
From other venues, Wynne Prakusya of Central Java won her over Patricia Soesilo of East Java 6-3, 6-3 in women's team match to hand Central Java a 3-0 over East Java in the last match of Group D.
Sony Dwi Kuncoro of East Java lost 17-15, 15-4 to Simon Santoso of Jakarta in men's team match with Jakarta winning over East Java with 3-2 in the final match of Group B.
Meanwhile, in every sport competition, the response from local residences varied from low to high enthusiasm.
In basketball, volleyball, and judo, the spectators relatively fulfilled the stadion where every team played.
But in wushu competition and tennis, the spectators were relatively few.
Aeromodelling, swimming, waterpolo, equestrian, baseball, badminton, bridge, rowing, golf, soccer, archery, judo, wushu, and tennis competitions will be held on Saturday.