Mia and Joko win badminton golds for Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Olympic silver medalist Mia Audina and former world champion Joko Suprianto won gold for Jakarta in the badminton singles competitions at the 14th National Games yesterday.

Mia barely broke sweat to defeat Yuni Kartika from Central Java 11-3, 11-6 in the women's singles final in less than 30 minutes. Joko beat former Olympic champion Alan Budikusuma 15-3, 15-12 in the men's singles final -- a replay of their encounter in the Indonesian Open final earlier this month.

East Java took the mixed doubles gold through Trikus Heryanto and Minarti Timur. They beat West Java's Flandy Limpele and Eliza 15-8, 18-14.

In an all-Central Javanese men's doubles final, Olympic bronze medalists Antonius and Denny Kantono defeated Gunawan and Dicky P. 15-9, 15-5.

Yesterday's gold medal was Mia's first top honor in her singles career. "The victory is a good start for my bid to win more titles," said Mia.

Mia, who helped Indonesia win two successive Uber Cup victories in May, played with an injured left leg, but it proved no barrier to her attacking game which ripped Yuni's defense apart.

"Whenever I feel tired, the injury hurts me very much, especially when I jump," said Mia, who is now ranked fifth in the world.

Mia cruised to the final after beating Central Java's Yuliani Sentosa, while Yuni edged out Meiluawati from Jakarta.

In the men's singles, Joko had no trouble in taming the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, who received most of the support from the crowd.

"I couldn't concentrate. I made too many unforced errors. Maybe I'm too tired," Alan said after the match.

It was Joko's first gold in three attempts at the National Games. He took his first medal, a bronze, when representing Central Java in the 12th Games seven years ago.

After an easy first set, Joko sped to a 11-3 lead in the second set before Alan, who seemed to be having trouble concentrating, bounced back superbly.

Alan dominated the net to close to 11-12, but unforced errors checked his momentum.

Bronze medals went to Hermawan Susanto from West Java and another Jakartan Hendrawan.

Hockey

The scandal-struck hockey tournament saw Yogyakarta's women's team beat East Java 2-0 on penalties in the final yesterday. It had been reduced to an exhibition match after the Games organizing committee disqualified the event.

Surprising finalist Yogyakarta took favorite East Java to the limit with its attacking play to force a goalless draw, even after extra time. Both teams had three chances each in the penalty shoot-out.

Yogyakarta's team manager Aning Sunindyo told Antara that the victory was more than a consolation for not getting a medal. "We don't care whether our gold medal is legal or not. The most important thing is that we have proved we could win," he said.

The winning team was considered an illegal squad for failing to follow the registration procedures.

Chairman of the council's East Java chapter Abdul Hamid Mahmud expressed his disappointment for the defeat, as if his side had lost in a real final. "It's a pity that our silver will be excluded from the medal tally," he said.

The "token" final was played before Surono, an adviser of the Indonesian Hockey Association and a former chairman of the National Sports Council, and hundreds of spectators.

Surono criticized the committee for announcing a decision without asking those who knew why Yogyakarta's female players failed to register for the Games.

In sepak takraw, Riau finally won two golds after failing in its efforts in the previous four Games.

Riau, fielding Hendra Gunafi, Irwansyah and Armon Yones, labored before overcoming South Sulawesi's trio of Baharuddin, Arli and M. Rias in yesterday's final. (yan)

Medal tally

G S B Jakarta 135 81 75 West Java 68 82 86 East Java 63 79 77 Central Java 30 39 67 Lampung 20 20 33 Irian Jaya 17 17 16 Jambi 16 12 10 North Sulawesi 14 17 23 East Kalimantan 13 12 21 South Kalimantan 13 10 8 South Sulawesi 12 21 23 North Sumatra 11 13 15 Central Kalimantan 11 12 13 South East Sulawesi 11 4 9 Bali 9 14 21 Yogyakarta 9 12 21 Riau 9 6 9 West Kalimantan 6 5 5 South Sumatra 5 7 9 West Sumatra 4 11 16 Maluku 4 6 16 East Nusa Tenggara 4 2 4 Aceh 2 2 9 Central Sulawesi 2 2 6 East Timor 2 0 11 Bengkulu 1 4 8 West Nusa Tenggara 1 2 3