Indonesian judokas go home after shocking defeats in Asiad

BANGKOK (JP): The Indonesian judo team will leave the 13th Asian Games empty-handed after its last two medal hopefuls made early exits on Wednesday.

Men's light-middleweight Kresna Bayu lost on points to Xiao Degiang of China, while his teammate Aprilia Marzuki was defeated by Olga Artamonova of Kyrgystan in their women's light- middleweight bout.

The shocking defeats came under the watchful eyes of National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, who is also a former chief of the Indonesian Judo Association.

On Tuesday, Praptiningsih Rahayu, competing in the women's lightweight division, failed to reach the quarterfinals.

Southeast Asian Games (SEA) gold medalist Bayu took the initiative in his bout, using his thighs to attempt an uchimata throw. But it was the feisty Xiao who scored with two osotogari outer reaping throws, which, although not perfectly executed, were enough to score points for the Chinese judoka.

In the women's bout, Artamonova floored Aprilia with a tai- otohsi throw in a quick counterattack which the Indonesian failed to anticipate. The throw earned the Kyrgystan judoka a full point and the match.

Aprilia blamed herself for the loss, saying that she concentrated so much on her attacks that she ignored her defense.

"She (Artamonova) is not an outstanding judoka. I know her strengths very well. But she was patient enough to wait and execute a lethal counter attack," said Aprillia, who won a gold medal at the SEA Games in Jakarta last year.

China's Wang Xianbo won the women's light-middleweight gold medal after beating Nami Kimoto of Japan. Choo In-chul of South Korea defeated North Korean Kwak Ok-chol in the men's light- middleweight final.

Bayu, who was accompanied by his girlfriend, expressed disappointment with the refereeing.

"They (the referees) were unfair. Xiao did not deserve two wazari major points but only yuko minor points, because his throw attempts were not perfect," said Bayu, a student at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.

"They (the referees) also did not count my attacks. I think I should have won a yuko or at least a koka," he said.

Bayu wore a knee brace during his bout to avoid a recurrence of the injury he suffered in Japan last year.

"It did not bother me a lot. I did not feel the pain during the bout," he said. (yan)