Indonesian shooters on target again

By Stevie Emilia

JAKARTA (JP): She had been poker-faced throughout the competition, but markswoman Herce Meiske Tumbuan let tears of joy flow after winning the gold in running target shooting yesterday.

Her score of 412.2 points edged red-hot favorite Hoang Thi Nga of Vietnam (410.3). Tan Pilar of the Philippines won bronze with 162.6.

"I can't help crying, the match was so tense and my rivals were very good in the qualification round," Herce sobbed.

Her victory was all the more remarkable as she only took up shooting last year.

Hoang topped the list of eight qualifiers. But the Indonesian newcomer turned the tables in the final, hitting bull's-eye in nearly all of her 10 shots.

Herce joined with Hasmawarni and Puji Lestari to win the team event. Vietnam and the Philippines were second and third.

"We're very satisfied with today's results because the two golds helped us meet the target of winning five golds set by the National Sports Council," said Indonesian shooting team manager, Sita Dewi Razni.

Even more is expected of the team as competition continues through Oct. 19.

Indonesia garnered two golds, three silvers and three bronzes in the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The host team, with a haul of five golds, two silvers and five bronzes, is second to Thailand -- six golds and four silvers -- in the shooting standings in these Games.

In the women's individual and team air rifle, Thai shooters broke SEA Games records for the top honors.

In the individual competition, shooter Kerdsumran Nuanwan scored 496.8 to better compatriot Pupiromchaikul T.'s record of 493.4.

Second was Dang Thi Dong of Vietnam (489.9), with Thai Dangpiam Jarintorn (486.8) in third.

In the team event, Thailand (1,163) beat Vietnam (1,150) for gold. Indonesian's Aurora Maris, Yuniarti Ilyas and Inca Ferry W. shot their way to third with 1,147.

But Indonesia came up empty-handed in the men's individual and team 25-m standard pistol.

In the individual, Thailand's Arayavongkul Sumeth won with 569, Vietnam's Pham Cao Son grabbed silver (567) and bronze went to Myanmar's Myint Soe (557).

In the team event, Vietnam won gold with 1,681 while silver went to Thailand (1,669) and bronze to Myanmar.