Lifter Indri bags RI's 1st medal

Lifter Indri bags RI's 1st medal

By Primastuti Handayani

BANGKOK (JP): Liu Xiuhua of China won the gold medal in the 48
kilograms women's weightlifting event on the second day of the
13th Asian Games.

Liu lifted a total of 187.5 kilograms and set a new snatch
record of 83.5 kilograms. China's Li Zhou had held the previous
record of 83 kilograms since September. Xiuhua ended her attempt
to break the world clean and jerk mark of 112.5 kilograms at 104.

Myanmar's Kay Thi-Win took silver in the event after lifting a
total of 182.5 kilograms, while Sri Indriyani of Indonesia won
the bronze with a total of 180 kilograms, bringing Indonesia its
first medal of the games.

"I was really disappointed because I should have won the
silver. However, I'm proud to be Indonesia's first medalist, even
if it's only a bronze," the 20-year-old lifter better known as
Indri told reporters after the competition.

National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, State
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono, Gelora
Senayan executive director Yasidi Hambali, and the secretary-
general of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Body
building Association Djoko Pramono shook Indri's hand and kissed
her forehead after her success.

Indri lifted 80 kilograms in the snatch, while Kay could only
manage 77.5 kilograms. But in the clean and jerk, Kay clinched
the silver by lifting 105 kilograms, while Indri failed to lift
102.5 kilograms in her last attempt.

Indri said the technical controller asked her to remove her
left knee support on the stage before her third attempt in the
snatch.

"It really distressed me because I was on stage when the
official asked me to take it off," she said. "But it shouldn't be
an excuse for my loss."

Djoko said the controller should have asked Indri to remove
the support before she went onto the stage.

"What they did really ruined her concentration and the clock
was ticking. We didn't protest because IWF (International
Weightlifting Federation) officials handled the matter and Indri
was given the chance to repeat her attempt," he said.

Indri's success will bring her a Rp 15 million (US$2,000) cash
bonus from the council. Wismoyo has promised to award Rp 50
million to each gold medalist, Rp 30 million to each silver
medalist and Rp 15 million to each bronze medalist.

Indri said she had suffered from nerves the previous evening
and had been unable to sleep.

"My ranking placed me fourth in the draw, but all the other
lifters had better records than me, so I was lucky to get the
bronze," she said.

Indonesia will field Supeni and Winarni in the women's 53
kilograms division and Taufik in the men's 62 kilogram division.

Djoko said that Tuesday's competition would be harder than on
Monday.

"Our opponents will be tougher, especially those from China.
Our chances of winning a medal are 50-50. But it will be hard to
get the silver. If we're lucky, we might get another bronze from
one of our three athletes," he said.