RI Olympic medalist beaten at SEA Games

RI Olympic medalist beaten at SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): Olympic silver medalist Lisa Rumbewas of
Indonesia was upset by pre-tournament outsider Swe Swe Win of
Myanmar, while her teammates took two golds in weightlifting
competition at the 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on Wednesday.

Lisa and Swe, who competed in the women's 53kg category, both
powered to lift totals of 205kg, but the Indonesian was
eventually placed second because she weighed more than her
Myanmarese opponent.

The bronze went to Udomporn Polsak of Thailand, who hoisted a
total of 197.5kg.

Lisa, who was awarded the silver medal in the 48kg category at
the 2000 Sydney Olympics, cast a smile at the announcement that,
despite lifting an equal weight, she had been relegated to second
place.

To the disdain of the Indonesian weightlifting contingent, the
athlete claimed that she did not know about the ruling.

"I did not know that difference in weight could cost us a
medal," she said as quoted by Antara.

Lisa fumbled her first lift of 85kg in the snatch but then
improved to 95kg, which was added to her clean and jerk of 110kg.

"I accept the decision. That's the best I can offer to the
state and nation and I will definitely be preparing even harder
in the future," she said.

Shortly after Lisa's unexpected defeat, the Indonesian team
celebrated its success in winning golds in the remaining events
of the day.

Misdan Yunip won the men's 69kg category after hoisting 135kg
in the snatch and 172.5kg in the clean and jerk for a total
307kg.

He said he owed his success to his mentor Imron Rosadi.
"Without him, I could be nothing," he said as quoted by Antara.

Misdan beat Suriya Dattuyawat of Thailand, who lifted 305kg,
and Muhammad Hidayat Hamidon of Malaysia, who lifted 285kg.

The other gold was secured by veteran Erwin Abdullah, whose
340kg lift in the 77kg category was too much for second-placed
Sunti Yonjaitun of Thailand and Ahmad Fazlan Ghazali of Malaysia
to overtake, who amassed final totals of 292.5kg and 290kg
respectively.

The victories have brought Indonesia's number of gold medals
in the weightlifting to four. The other contributors were Jadi
Setiadi in the men's 56kg class and Gustar Junianto in the men's
62kg class on Tuesday.