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.