RI dominates judo competition
RI dominates judo competition
JAKARTA (JP): Judo is the only sport for Indonesia at the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which contributed the targeted set of gold medals.
The National Sports Council (KONI) expected Indonesian judokas to collect six gold medals but by yesterday the athletes had earned nine gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
This is good news for KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, who wanted the judokas to show that Indonesia is still the best throughout Southeast Asia.
Indonesia got three of four final berths on Thursday. With the three additional medals, Indonesia became the overall champion of the judo event in the SEA Games.
The last day of the judo competition became an unforgettable day for two Indonesian judokas, Krisna Bayu and Aprilia Marzuki.
Bayu, who performed in the free class, was able to beat John Baylon of Philippines. It was the second win for Bayu after he earned a gold medal in his favorite middleweight division.
Coach Perry Pantouw, a former Indonesian top judoka, said that Bayu has the potential to become a better judoka than Pantouw was during his heyday.
"He can be a better judoka than I was," Perry said, "He has the potential to be a world-class judoka if he gets proper training."
Meanwhile, female Indonesian judoka, Aprilia Marzuki, was also able to get a gold medal in the free class event. She managed to defeat Judy Ann Malinis of the Philippines in the final after she won the women's middleweight class.
Local newspaper Suara Pembaruan reported yesterday that at the next SEA Games, which will be staged in Jakarta, Indonesia will still boast the best two judokas in the free class.
In the ongoing SEA Games, extra lightweight judoka Rachmad Triharyono managed to defeat Niles Geofrey Abalos of the Philippines and win another gold medal for Indonesia.
The failure of its three judokas forced the Philippines to bury its plans for three gold medals in the judo competition.
Indonesia was given other gold medals in the men's lightweight division for Sulistiyo Yudie, in the men's half-lightweight class for Wahid Yudi Sulistianto, half-middleweight women division for Ni Made Suyudani to bring the country's total to nine golds. (05)