Indonesia admits chance slimmer for double gold

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian chef de mission Arie Sudewo admitted on Monday his team's chances of reaching its target of two gold medals suffered a blow after a series of defeats on the badminton court.

But Ari remained confident the country's remaining athletes would be in high spirits thanks to the contingent's second bronze, won by female weightlifter Winarni.

"The second bronze was a big surprise because we only hoped for one medal from weightlifting. We're very proud of the results," Arie told journalists during a teleconference at the National Sports Council office in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Winarni won the country's second bronze with a total lift of 212.5 kilograms in the 53-kilogram event on Monday. Fellow lifter Lisa Rumbewas put Indonesia among the medal-winning countries in this year's Olympics in the 48-kilogram division on Sunday.

Arie said it would be difficult for the Indonesian shuttlers to win two gold medals with only one pair each in the men's doubles and mixed double events. All of Indonesia's three men's singles advanced on Monday, but no women's singles and doubles players are left in the field.

"It would be easier if we had two pairs in each category. But I hope the shuttlers will not pessimistic about their chances," he said.

Another medal hopeful is windsurfer Oka Sulaksana, who is currently in fourth place after three out of four races on Monday. Asian Games winner Oka has set a realistic target of winning a bronze.

Another Indonesian official, Indra Kartasamita, said Oka was in 11th place when the third race was delayed because of poor wind. The race itself was postponed for about three hours.

"The committee had to cancel the fourth race because of the unpredictable weather conditions and swirling winds," Indra added.

Meanwhile, the country's best hope in the women's tennis event, Wynne Prakusya, said she was feeling much better physically, although she still had a cold.

"I'm already recovered. I am now at 95 percent of my top form and ready for my first match," she said of her opening battle against Swiss Emanuelle Gagliardi on Tuesday.

"I've never met her before but I've seen her play several times before. Her type of play fits me. I also like the rebound ace surface here which is similar to Melbourne's Flinders Park," added Wynne, who is making her Olympic debut.

She said she and her opponent stood an equal chance of making it to the second round.

Wynne also will team up with veteran Yayuk Basuki in the women's doubles event. The pair's first hurdle will be Ai Sugiyama and Nana Miyagi of Japan.

"We just aim to be the best Asian players here," Wynne said.

Also taking part in the teleconference was men's swimmer Albert Sutanto, who failed in the heat stage of the 200m butterfly. He attributed his loss to his difficulties in adapting to his new "shark-skin" swimsuit.

"I don't know what happened with me. I couldn't breathe easily with the new suit, perhaps because I put it on long before I swam," said Albert, who clocked a time of two minutes, five seconds. His best time in the 220m butterfly is 2:02.

"I will do my best in the 100m butterfly," he added. (nvn)