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)