More controversy hits gymnastics at Games

More controversy hits gymnastics at Games

JAKARTA (JP): Judging was again a point of contention as
gymnasts from Thailand and Indonesia shared gold in the men's
individual all-around apparatus competition yesterday.

Amornthep Unchai of Thailand and Jonathan Mangiring Sianturi
of Indonesia finished top equal with a score of 53.2. Sattra
Suwansa of Thailand was third with 52.1.

The Indonesian contingent had questioned the starting value of
Jonathan's routine in the high bar.

Thailand had also requested a review of the starting value of
the routine by Aekaraj Chankroong's in the pommel horse.

"We asked them to recheck for our gymnast. The Indonesian
coach had wanted Jonathan's score to be lifted up in the high
bar," Quanchai Chaosuko, a Thai team manager, told The Jakarta
Post.

The judges reviewed the videotape and Chankroon was eventually
awarded fourth place.

Chaosuko said Thailand accepted the result out of goodwill.

Jonathan was surprised by the final result as he thought he
had placed second.

"It's God's will. It is beyond my strength and capability," he
told the Post.

This was the second shared gold in gymnastics. Malaysia and
the Philippines had placed first in the women's team competition
on Monday in a result also marred by questions over judging.

Controversy also plagued the women's all-around event
yesterday. Au Li Yen of Malaysia won with a combined score of
34.375, beating Pia Adelle Reyes of the Philippines (34.00).
Another Malaysian, Chang Siew Ting, was third (33.662).

"We've got a bonus today. (These medals) were beyond our
target," said Malaysian team manager Zainureen bin M. Nor.

The Philippine team manager, MA Luisa Sugay, asked the judges
to review Reyes' scores. She had no comment about the reason for
her objection.

But the Philippines team coach, Lisa Pou, said deductions in
Reyes' floor and balance beam scores seemed out of proportion
with her mistakes.

Indonesia also questioned the judging in the women's event,
saying judges had given low preliminary values for its most
talented gymnast, Afrina Suryani Siahaan, who finished in fourth.

"We don't need the medal. But we would like to have the fair
scores," said Indonesian team manager Andi Darussalam Tabusalla.
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