Gymnasts tumble over biased scoring
Gymnasts tumble over biased scoring
By Ivy Susanti
JAKARTA (JP): The spotlight shone on the judges, not the
athletes, in gymnastics, as allegations of biased scoring were a
daily occurrence in the Games.
Requests for video playback reviews were common, leading to
hasty revisions in medal standings after scores were changed.
Judges defended themselves, charging the controversies were
all due to emotional reactions of the coaches.
But the judges from the International Gymnastics Federation
conceded that their local counterparts needed more training to
master the complex international scoring code.
The outstanding gymnast was undoubtedly Indonesia's Jonathan
Mangiring Sianturi. He won six golds -- five individual and one
team -- after returning from a long injury lay-off.
But he had to take second billing to the judging battles,
which began on the opening day when Malaysia and the Philippines
shared the top honors in the women's team event.
The Philippines was originally declared the winner, but the
disappointed Malaysian coach asked the judges to review a
performance by one of its gymnasts. A new score led to the tie.
Controversy was not limited to the women's event. Thai
Amornthep Unchai was originally declared victor in the men's all-
around.
After several hours of deliberation, Jonathan was given the
same score as Unchai to share the honors.
Thailand also asked the judges to raise the starting value of
the routine of Aekaraj Chankroong. Chankroong was eventually
awarded the fourth place.
On the same day, the Philippine team manager requested judges
review the score for Pia Adelle Reyes in the all-around.
The 13-year-old Reyes did receive a better score, but it did
not affect her second placement.
Indonesia was not left out, questioning the score of Afrina
Suryani Siahaan in the balance beam. But the judges stuck to
their original score.
In the individual event, Afrina tied with Malaysian Chang Siew
Ting in the uneven bars after a video review had upped her
original mark.
Afrina was also part of another silver medal tie, this time
with Ninh Tran Thi Hai from Vietnam in the vault.
On the last day of all-around competition, the Philippine team
coach requested a video review of Reyes' performance after she
had finished second in the beam. Her score was subsequently
increased for a tie for gold with Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Nga.
Indonesia won a gold in rhythmic all-around by scoring
145.651. Malaysia was second (144.034) and Thailand third
(139.513).
In the final chapter of gymnastics history in this year's
Games, Indonesia seized nine from 16 golds offered -- six from
the men's competition, two from the women's and one from rhythmic
all-around.
Malaysia was next with five golds, Thailand got four, the
Philippines won two, and last but not least was Vietnam, taking
its first gymnastics gold.