Indonesian swimmers steal the show at Arafura Games

By Primastuti Handayani

DARWIN, Australia (JP): Indonesia's second string swimmers won six more gold, four silver and three bronze medals on the third day of the Arafura Games yesterday.

Seventeen-year-old Silvy Triana won two golds and a silver in the Casuarina pool.

Silvy took gold in the 100 meters butterfly in 1:05.05 seconds. She matched Jong Su Ting's 1991 record.

Northern Territory swimmer Kerrylee Taylor came second in 1:05.57 and Sabah's Jasmine Leong was third in 1:13.40.

Silvy also won the 100 meters freestyle invitational event in 1:00.44. She received a bonus of a swimsuit, goggles and cap from Speedo.

Taylor came second in 1:00.90 while the Northern Queensland's Karen Rooimans was third in 1:01.47.

But Silvy failed to overcome Fiji's Caroline Pickering in the 100 meters backstroke. Pickering took gold in 1:07.17 and broke Jong Su Ting's record of 1:12.96. Silvy won silver with 1:07.63 and host swimmer Taylor was third in 1:15.35.

Fourteen-year-old Darlene Rahmawati won the 100 meters breaststroke in 1:21.22.

The Northern Marina Islands' Jennifer Pierce was second with 1:22.16 and Papua New Guinea's Xenia Peni took the bronze in 1:22.98.

In the 50 meters backstroke, Darlene won her second gold, finishing 33.85 seconds, followed by Northern Territory swimmer Dale Jennings in 34.36 and Northern Mariana Islands' Tracy feger in 34.76.

Kevin Rosa Nasution grabbed bronze in the 50 meter breaststroke in 37.89 seconds. Sabah's Jasmine Leong won in 36.28, while North Queensland's Tara was second in 37.79.

Three national male swimmers being groomed as the second string squad for the 19th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta in October, made a clean sweep in the 100 meters butterfly.

Kristian Johanes won gold in 58.34 seconds, breaking Jason Pini's 1995 record of 59.17. Junior Donny Utomo and Sumanto came second and third in 59.03 and 59.77 respectively.

Kristian also won two silvers in the 100 meters freestyle invitational and the 100 meters backstroke.

The 22-year-old Indonesian finished second with 54.78 seconds followed by compatriot Donny Utomo in 56.71. Fiji's Carl Probert took gold in 54.15.

Probert also beat Kristian in the 100 meters backstroke by finishing in 1:01.30, breaking Michael Harrison's 1993 record of 1:02.84. Kristian won silver in 1:04.90 and Owen Pike brought home the bronze in 1:11.51.

Swimming team manager Kristiono said he was satisfied with the results.

"It's a good start for our young swimmers to experience international competition here," he said.

Badminton

Indonesia won the first gold in team badminton as national second and third string shuttlers beat China, represented by Haikou city team, 7-1 at the Nightcliff High School.

In the first men's singles, Hendrawan beat Lu Jin Ming 15-8, 15-3 in 41 minutes.

Lydia Djaelawidjaja, IBF ranked 20, was upset by Rong Yi 4-11, 4-11 in the first women's singles.

"I applied the wrong strategy. I shouldn't have forced myself to attack," Lydia said.

Rudy Wijaya/Seng Kok Keong beat Cheng Ping/Lu Jin Ming 15-8, 15-6 in the men's doubles while Nonong DZ/Carmelita beat Rong Yi/Ye Yin Hao 15-8, 15-4.

In the second men's singles, Nunung Subandoro beat Chen 15-2, 15-7 and Poland Open winner, Yuli Marfuah, won 11-6, 11-6 over Ye.

The two mixed doubles matches were not played because they would not affect the outcome.

The singles matches start today with Hendrawan and Lydia as the seeded players.

Indonesia's women's softball team earned a semifinals berth after blasting the Australian Defense Forces 16-2 in six innings yesterday at the Garden Ovals.

Indonesia will probably meet the Northern Territory in Friday's semifinals.

The men's team overwhelmed Brunei Darussalam 11-0 in five innings. Indonesia still has to face the Australian Defense Forces and Northern Mariana Islands today.

Boxer Wilpare Jamhur beat West Australia's Shaun Eaton with a third round technical knockout at the Italian Club, Marrara Sports Complex.

Compatriot Deddy Mikaso beat the Northern Territory's Dennis Haines. But Herry Makawimbang lost to the Northern Territory's James Swan.