Indonesia tops medal table in shooting

Indonesia tops medal table in shooting

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): Most shooters would be happy to win two gold
medals in a lifetime. Indonesia's Bari Agustini Said accomplished
the feat in one day in her Games debut.

She was beaming with pride after triumphing in the women's
individual air pistol individual event and team competition with
Yohana Lawalata and Nuris Melly.

Her 473.4 points beat Myanmar's Khin Soe Thaik (469.9) and
Susan Aguado of the Philippines (469.5) for the individual gold.

"I'm happy about winning today's match, but it couldn't have
happened without God's blessing," Agustini said.

Indonesia tied with Thailand in the team event. But better
average scores gave it the gold. The Philippines was third.

The hosts also won the men's running target mixed-run team and
individual yesterday.

Gunawan claimed the individual gold (355), while the silver
went to Vietnam shooter Tran Tung (327) and bronze to Shaffi
Buhari of Singapore (268).

Indonesians Antoni Sabatu and Yoshie Augusta Akbar actually
scored higher than both Tran and Buhari with 353 points each.

"The decision to share medals between participating countries
in shooting is part of our commitment," Indonesian shooting team
manager, Sita Dewi Razni, told The Jakarta Post.

"We're very satisfied with today's result, which is much
better than previous Games."

With yesterday's results, the hosts ranked first with nine
golds, two silvers and six bronzes, followed by Thailand with
seven golds and six silvers.

In the men's individual free pistol, the tension evaporated
after the Philippines' Carolina Gonzales was announced winner.

Teammates, coaches and supporters serenaded him with Happy
Birthday. He turns 40 today.

"This gold is a nice gift for my birthday," he told the Post.

"I won this because of strong support from my teammates and
family out there in the Philippines."

Gonzales' 643.4 was just 0.1 better than top ranked
Panichpatikum Jakkrit of Thailand. The latter earned a public
berating from his coach.

Panichpatikum had earlier won the team gold with Komkris
Weraphan and Klomjai Surin.

Vietnam won silver and Indonesia's Sholeh, Idsam Kaplale and
Siswanto took bronze.

Local shooters were shut out in the men's individual and team
trap shooting.

Singapore's Lee Wung Yew won gold, silver went to Malaysia's
Hng Chai Hee and bronze went to George Earnshaw of the
Philippines in the individual.

In the team event, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines
filled the top three spots.