RI success in Islamic Women's Games hailed

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's success in the second Islamic Women's Games in Tehran should motive athletes to perform better at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok next December.

Wismoyo Arismunandar, the National Sports Council chairman, said yesterday when meeting the returning athletes that Indonesia did not win its 22 golds and 17 silvers easily.

"Iran and Kazakhstan are known to be strong countries in shooting. But we won two golds and one silver which will motivate our athletes to compete better in the Asiad," he said.

Wismoyo, who personally met the contingent at the airport Thursday, also praised the athletes for being declared the best contingent during the Games.

"It may have been the smallest contingent we have ever sent to a multisports event but it produced outstanding results," he said.

Meanwhile, the state minister of youth affairs and sports' assistant for sports, Imam Sujudi, said he expected the council to pay more attention to female athletes as they could contribute many medals at sports events.

"Our female athletes have contributed many medals in international sports events. For example, our female archers won the first silver in the Olympics and our female lifters broke world records in an international weight lifting championship," he said.

Antara reported Indonesia, which only sent 13 athletes, finished third after Iran and Kazakhstan. Host Iran won 58 golds, 55 silvers and 37 bronzes from its 285 athletes while Kazakhstan's 185 athletes only won 35 golds, five silvers and nine bronzes to finish second.

Chef de mission Datiet Siti Hardjanti Wismoyo said that about 1,000 athletes from 24 countries competed in the championships.

Indonesia only competed in five of the 12 sports. The country's three swimmers -- Dwi Pujiastuti Akub, Darlene Rahmawati and Ati Yuliani -- won 14 golds and 13 silvers, mainly thanks to Dwi who won seven golds.

Indonesia's Alia Zairin, Gusti Ayu Indradewi and Shila Prasasti won two golds and one silver from the air rifle match team and individual events.

Young shuttlers Heni Setiani and Yuli Marfuah won two golds and one silver in the singles and doubles event.

Rossy Pratiwi, Yulianti, Putri Hasibuan and Mulatsih brought home three golds and two silvers from table tennis while the only track and field athlete, Hasiati Lawole, won gold in the 3,000 meter walk. (yan)