RI fends off foes in karate

RI fends off foes in karate

By Innocentius Christianto

JAKARTA (JP): Despite a chorus of protests from Malaysia, the
host team got off to a perfect start in karate yesterday by
taking the first six of the roster of 19 golds.

Golds came in individual Kata, team Kata and team Kumite
events for both sexes held at the North Jakarta sports hall.

Muhamad Hasan Basri, the Indonesian anchor in the tense Kumite
team contest, got the cheers amid a cacophony of boos and hisses
for his Malaysian opponent.

"I felt a bit burdened as I was the last one. But it's
God's will to let the Indonesian team win," he said.

Bronzes went to the Philippines and Myanmar.

In women's Kumite team, Indonesia's Meity J. Kasegar, Nilawati
Daud and Rosy Nurasyati, beat out the Philippines. Malaysia and
Vietnam won the bronze medals.

Aswan Ali won the first gold through Unsu in the men's
individual Kata. Compatriot Abdul Kadir won silver and Le Tien
Nguyen from Vietnam the bronze.

In women's individual Kata, Omita Olga Ompi made bashaisho in
the final round to score 24.8, the same score as Endah Zubaidah.
In the tiebreak, Ompi and Endah had Nijushiho, which the former
one with 25. The bronze went to Lim Lee Lee (24.5, Gojushiho).

In men's team Kata, the Indonesian team, consisting of Aswan
Ali, Elias Tande and Wahyu Hidayat, performed Unsu in the
final. The silver medal was awarded to Vietnam and bronze to the
Philippines.

Indonesia's Kata women's team -- Ompi, Yulian Tangka and
Zubaidah -- performed Bashaisho and scored 25.1 in the final.
Malaysia and the Philippines occupied the other medal places.

Vice president of Malaysia Karate-Do Federation, Mohd. Noor
Nordin, was upset by the judging.

"All of the events were controversial. It's useless, however,
to appeal. These are final judgments. We just feel very sad. But
we also understand that the judges and referees are working for
the host country."

A coach from the Philippines, David Lay, believed the events
had been conducted fairly.

"Today, Indonesia's team was better than us, but in sport
everything can change and at anytime," he said.

Chairman of the Indonesian Karate Association, Wiranto,
said it was understandable that tensions ran high during the
fiercely competitive matches between Indonesia and Malaysia.

"But I have learned that Malaysia did not submit any written
protest."

He added that Indonesia had not set a target for golds.

"We have other qualified karatekas, just wait and see," he
said.