E. Java keeps up pressures on W. Java

JAKARTA (JP): With the overall title already determined, the bitter rivalry between West Java and East Java, the country's most populous provinces, grew fiercer yesterday at the 14th National Games.

The fate of both teams hung in the balance after they won a gold medal each in volleyball yesterday evening.

East Java female spikers defended their title after coming back from a set down to beat West Java 14-16, 16-14, 15-9, 15-9 in a packed Senayan Indoor Stadium. Earlier, in the men's final, West Java pounded defending champion East Java 15-9, 15-7, 15-7 for a gold medal.

The day's last golds for the two arch rivals, however, did not change the medal standings. With host Jakarta clearly on its way to surpass the 100-gold-medal mark, West Java lay second with 46 golds, 58 silvers and 55 bronzes. East Java closed in with just one gold deficit.

East Java got off to a flying start yesterday, winning two golds in water skiing. It was also dominant in archery where it took two more golds from the men's 40m individual and women's 50m individual events.

The last day of the track and field competition also served well as a battle field of East Java and West Java, which took four and three golds in the competition respectively.

West Javanese runners swept both the 4 X 100m relay titles at the expense of their East Javanese rivals, but the 4 X 400 relays ended with opposite outcomes.

Jakarta completed the track and field competition on a low note with no gold medals yesterday. But its victory hungry shooters and gymnasts kept up their pace.

The track and field competition failed to impress after seven days of competition. Six new meet records were set but no national records were shattered.

Mohammad (Bob) Hasan, the chairman of the Indonesian Track and Field Association, argued that the absence of national records was caused by the changing of the guards. "As you see, there are many new champions, whose names may not be familiar to you," Hasan said.

In shooting, Yuniarti and her teammates won two golds for Jakarta, bringing its tally of golds to 15 yesterday. The Jakarta gymnasts romped home with three more golds from rhythmic disciplines, thanks to Winni Sari's double victory in the ball and hoop disciplines and Nita Mardiana's win in the clubs discipline.

The boxing finals will cap the ninth day of action at the Games, offering 12 of the day's 41 golds. Host Jakarta and West Java will parade four boxers each, but the settlement of personal rivalry between two Indonesian Olympians, Lapaene Masara and Hermensen Ballo, will be the bout to watch.

Lapaene of Maluku, the only Indonesian boxer to reach the quarterfinals in this year's Olympic Games, has moved up to the flyweight division, only to play his roughest pound-for-pound fight ever against the East Nusa Tenggara defending champion.

Soccer looks to add spice to today's action, although no medals are at stake on the green field at the Senayan stadium. Defending champion Irian Jaya will try to break its jinx against South Sulawesi in today's semifinals, while East Java takes on North Sulawesi.

"We are upbeat of retaining our crown," Irian coach Fostoc Yom said yesterday. (amd)

More stories on Page 10