Indonesia suffers medals drought
JAKARTA (JP): Golds were scarce for Indonesia on Thursday and with four days remaining at the 21st Southeast Asian Games, the national contingent looks like having to abandon its dreams of regaining the overall title.
Malaysia tightened its grip on the top of medal standings with 64 golds, followed by Thailand with 55 golds.
Past-time champion Indonesia remains third with 43 golds. With most of its favorite sports having completed their events, it will be hard for Indonesia to finish even second as it did in the 1999 Games in Brunei.
The poor run also befell the country's soccer team, which lost 1-2 to defending champion Thailand in the semifinals after taking an early lead through Bambang Pamungkas. A golden goal in the 105th minute from Teepratep Vinothai denied Indonesia another attempt to win the gold that has eluded it since 1991.
In the final on Saturday, Thailand will take on host Malaysia, which beat Myanmar 1-0 in the other semifinal match on Thursday.
Thursday's competition could only produce five golds for Indonesia, two each in rowing and weightlifting and one each in athletics and judo.
The Kuala Lumpur SEA Games will surely be unforgettable for Supriati Sutono as the Indonesian veteran set another new meet record before her planned retirement.
After her laurel in the 10,000m, Supriati scored the best time of 16:08.93 in the women's 5,000 to shatter her own record of 16:11.60 she made at the 1997 SEA Games. Pa Pa of Myanmar and Doan Nu Truc Van of Vietnam finished second with a time of 16:19.10 and third with 16:40.71.
Supriati said she was seeking a triple when she races in the 1,500m on Friday.
"I will try my best to win tomorrow's competition in another record-breaking time. It will be my personal memorial as I bid farewell to the Games," she said.
But overall, the Indonesian track and field team's high hopes suffered a cruel reversal, with officials admitting to being 'jolted' by the results. Supriati has gained the lone golds so far for Indonesia.
The rowing competition ended at the Batu Gombak Reservoir, Selangor, on Thursday with Indonesia coming out as the overall winner with five golds.
The Indonesian lifters powered their way to two more gold medals at the 21st Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, courtesy of Yudi Suhartono and female compatriot Tanti Pratiwi.
Kresna Bayu handed the Indonesian judo team a gold on the opening day of competition, which saw Thailand win three of the four golds up for grabs.
Swimming competition also ended on Thursday with Thailand, despite failing to add one to the tally, finishing on top in swimming with 12 golds, followed by Malaysia with nine and Singapore eight.
The final competition was marked with an upset defeat by SEA Games' pool queen Joscelin Yeo at the hands of Moe Thu Aung of Myanmar in the 50m freestyle.