Lisa grabs RI's first medal, Tonton ends fourth

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Busan, South Korea

Women's weight lifter Lisa Raema Rumbewas snatched the first medal on Monday for the Indonesian contingent at the Busan 2002 Asian Games when she won the bronze medal at the women's under-48 kilogram weight class division at the Pukyong University gymnasium.

Earlier in the day, Indonesian top cyclist Tonton Susanto finished at a respectable fourth place in the men's 50-kilometer individual time trial event amid a strong showing made by cyclists from Central Asia, the former Soviet Union's republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan and Uzbekistan, in Busan's northern district of Gijang.

Lisa lifted a total of 195 kilograms, well above the Games record of 187.5 kilograms. But her total lift was 5 kg less than those lifted by Chinese Li Zhuo and Kay Thi Win of Myanmar, who both lifted 200 kilograms.

Li Zhuo, the 2002 junior world champion, won the gold medal because of her lighter weight of 47.7 kg, while the Myanmar weight lifter weighed in at 47.95 kilograms.

By doing so, both weight lifters broke the Games record, which was 187.5 kg, while setting a new Asian record of 197.5 kg. Both Li Zhuo and Kay Thi Win also matched the world record.

"I am not disappointed with the result because this is the best I can do although I could make 197.5 kg during my training," Lisa said.

"But I must admit that I lost my balance while trying to lift 90 kg at the snatch event," she added.

Lisa hoisted 85 kilograms for the snatch and 110 kilograms for the clean-and-jerk lift.

"Lisa lost her balance when the bell rang in the snatch lift. She was not ready to fully extend her arms to lift the barbel," coach Lukman said. "But technically speaking, her skills are just fine."

"While in the clean-and-jerk lift, 110 kg was her best."

Lukman said that Lisa could lift 197.5 kilograms during her training, but that it was done on a separate day.

Meanwhile, Lisa's mother, Lisa Aldamina Korwa, said she was proud of her daughter's performance, even though she failed to contribute a gold medal.

"She was not able to fulfill Ibu Megawati (Soekarnoputri)'s request for a gold medal. The bronze medal is also a medal and that is what she can contribute to her country," she said while trying to hold back her tears.

"But we all know that she lifted even more than when she won the Sydney 2000 Olympics with the 185 kg she managed there. It is more than any gold medal for me."

The other Indonesian lifter participating in the games on Monday, Rosmainar, lifted a total of 177.75 kg to earn sixth place.

Tuesday will see weight lifter Jadi Setiadi participating in the men's 56-kilogram weight division.

Meanwhile in Gijang, Tonton clocked 1:05:01.11 to finish fourth behind the Central Asian cyclists.

Andrei Teteriouk made 1:02:11.05 to grab a gold medal followed by Evgeny Vakker of Kyrgyztan with 1:02:58.05 for the silver and Sergey Krushevskiy of Uzbekistan who rode 1:03:41.86 for a bronze.