Indonesia set to grab first SEA Games gold medal
Indonesia set to grab first SEA Games gold medal
By Dwiatmanta
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (JP): Indonesia hopes to take the first
gold medal on offer at the 18th Southeast Asian Games here as the
sporting meet gets into full swing today, but host Thailand is
hoping to snatch it away too.
The women's 25-kilometer Individual Time Trial will raise the
checkered flag for the medal race, with Indonesian cycling queen
Nurhayati favored to strengthen her long-time reign on the road.
The organizers introduced the new road race in place of the
regular 20-kilometer event, in which Nurhayati has reigned
supreme since 1989. The 25-year-old cyclist gave the only gold to
the Indonesian cycling team in the 17th episode of the Games in
Singapore. Nurhayati also won a silver and a bronze in the Asian
Championships in Manila, last year.
"The distance change doesn't matter at all to me. I will
sprint it out to win the gold medal," Nurhayati, who hails from
Yogyakarta said.
She said that a three-month training stint in Adelaide,
Australia would stand her in good stead at the SEA Games.
Nurhayati and her 18 teammates underwent the overseas stint for
the Games.
"The cool climate here does not play havoc with my performance
either. I got used to such cool weather when I was in Australia,"
she said.
Nurhayati is Indonesia's hope in both road and track races.
The Organizing Committee has planned to ban cyclists from making
appearances in two different disciplines. No decision, however,
was made on the unusual plan.
There are three gold medals on offer in cycling events today,
with the men's 50km Individual Time Trial and the men's 1km Time
Trial following the women's race. The cycling golds are among the
28 top honors at stake in the opening stage of the eight-day
competition.
The road races will be held on a flat and straight highway
connecting Chiang Mai and Lamphun.
The largest number of medals will go to track and field
athletes today. A total of nine golds will be on offer, with
Thailand expected to romp home with at least four golds.
"Barring unforeseen injuries, Thailand will dominate the
hurdles and both the relays," Indonesian coach Pieter Noya said.
He said Indonesia may take a gold for javelin thrower Frederikus
Mahuse.
Indonesia looks to lose some of its dazzle in track and field
this year after Mardi Lestari dropped his bid for his fourth gold
attempt.
Mardi, the SEA Games' fastest runner at three successive
meets, was among three Indonesian athletes who fell victim to
typhoid a few days before their scheduled departure on Dec. 6.
Indonesia gained mixed results in the morning competitions,
winning the men's volleyball opener but being beaten by Thailand
in the men's basketball and by Malaysia in sepaktakraw.
The Indonesian spikers, defending champions and three-time
winners, dropped a set before beating Vietnam 15-12, 11-15, 15-7,
15-5.
Coach Wienarto took the risk of fielding two newcomers in the
first two sets, costing the Indonesians the second set. Wienarto
pulled them out in the third, and it appeared that Indonesia's
seasoned team led by Agus Faizal had little trouble whipping
Vietnam.
"I have to give them international experience. They will fill
the shoes of their seniors in 1997," Wienarto said.
The coach, however, failed to hide his disappointment of his
men's performance. "An opening match usually does not tell the
whole story, but I'm afraid they did not play their best," said
Wienarto.
Indonesia meets Singapore in the second group match today.
A brawl marred the opening match of the men's basketball which
saw Indonesia lose 61-94 to host Thailand.
The flare-up started when Thailand's Sivannut pushed
Indonesia's I Made Sudyadnyana a few minutes before the final
whistle. A mass brawl was about to break out when Sudiadnyana
replied with a kick. The referee managed to calm down the heated
temperaments and gave marching orders to both two players.
Today's program (all finals)
Track and field:
1. Women's shot put
2. Women's long jump
3. Men's javelin
4. Women's 4 X 200m relay
5. Men's 4 X 200m relay
6. Men's 10,000m
7. Women's 100m hurdles
8. Women's 400m
9. Men's 400m
Billiard:
1. Team
2. 15 ball (doubles)
Cycling:
1. Women's 25km ITT
2. Men's 50km ITT
3. Men's 1,000m TT
Equestrian events:
1. Dressage team
2. Dressage individual
Fencing:
1. Women's individual foil
2. Men's individual foil
Gymnastics:
1. Men's team artistic
2. Women's team artistic
Shooting:
1. Men's standard pistol
2. Women's standard rifle
Diving:
1. Men's 3m springboard
2. Women's 3m springboard