PENCAK SILAT VICTORIES:

PENCAK SILAT VICTORIES:

JP/Arief Suhardiman

Vietnamese women denied Indonesia a clean sweep on the final
day of the traditional martial art pencak silat competition
yesterday.

Trinh Thi Mui, Nguyen Thi Hong and Dang Thi Huy were the only
non-Indonesian champions as the host favorites romped home with
11 gold medals.

The victories took Indonesia's gold medal tally to 17 after
the squad gained all of the six classes in the newly introduced
non-fighting event on Thursday. A total of 20 golds were up for
grabs in this year's Games.

Indonesia's gold yesterday came from Ika Lesmana (right top
photo) in the women's wiralaga class A category after beating
Wantanee Boonaied of Thailand.

Trinh clinched her gold in the 55kg and below division with a
unanimous 3-0 win over Annaliza Bea of the Philippines. Nguyen
earned Vietnam its second after beating Rafeah Sahid of Singapore
3-0 in the women's 60kg and below class.

Dang scored a 3-0 win over Suryati Azliada of Malaysia in the
women's 65kg and below category.

Indonesia, powered by veterans who helped Indonesia win eight
golds in the previous Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, also took
two bronzes in the competition held at the ultramodern Pencak
Silat training center near Taman Mini, East Jakarta.

Samiaji (right bottom photo) opened the gold rush yesterday
with a 3-0 win over Dang Ngoc Hoa of Vietnam in the men's 45kg
and below division. Zulfan sewed up the day with a 3-0 victory
over Sheik Alauddin of Singapore in the men's 90kg and below
class. (amd)