Mia and Joko win badminton golds for Jakarta

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