Desi breaks Games pole vault record
Desi breaks Games pole vault record
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Hanoi
Ni Putu Desi Margawati vaulted to a new SEA Games record of 3.95
meters to give Indonesia a gold medal in the pole vault at My
Dinh Stadium here on Monday.
Desi bettered her own record of 3.90 at the 2001 SEA Games in
Kuala Lumpur.
It was one of four new records set in the track and field.
Nguyen Lan Ahn and Nguyen Thi Tinh delighted local fans with
impressive performances in their respective women's 1500 meters
and women's 400 meters.
Suphan Wongsriphuck of Thailand was the other record breaker
on his way to winning the men's 110 meter hurdles.
Despite winning with an improved record, Desi was disappointed
she did not beat the personal best she produced at the 2003 Asian
Championship in Colombo.
"Next time I should be able to perform better. I have to be
grateful that I won the gold," Desy said.
Desy opened her campaign with a successful vault over a 3.8-
meter high bar while Le Thi Puong of Vietnam, who was the
eventual silver medal winner, began with 3.6 meters.
The Indonesian needed a second try in the next two vaults of
3.90 and 3.95. She failed in her three attempts to jump four
meters.
Puong jumped 3.8 meters while Rosalinda Samsu took the bronze
with 3.6 meters.
Indonesia's hopes for another victory in the women's 10,000
meters did not materialize as Supriati Sutono, the 1998 Asian
Games gold medalist, failed in the final battle against Doan Nu
Truc Van.
Supriati, who was brought into the team just three months
before the games, touched the finish line in 34 minutes and 48.93
seconds. Van was ahead in 34:48.28.
Despite the failure, the team hailed Supriati as the
beginnings of her return to her best after a long layoff to give
birth.
"It's a good performance by Supriati. We hope she will take
revenge against her opponent when competing in the 5000 meters
tomorrow," team manager Tigor Tanjung said.
Indonesia added another silver from the men's triple jump
courtesy of Sugeng Jatmiko and a bronze through Edy Zakaria in
the men's 110 meters.
Suphan led the Thai romp of four golds, followed by Vietnam,
while the Philippines took three and Malaysia and Singapore were,
like Indonesia, left with a single gold.