Riau's shooters dominate PON
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Palembang
Shooters from Riau dominated the National Games (PON)'s shooting competition by winning three gold medals at the Sriwijaya Shooting Range here on Monday.
Bari Agustini Said began Riau's golden spree by hitting six perfect bullseye shots out of ten in the women's individual air pistol for a total score of 680.6 points, ahead of the eventual silver medalist Desak Putu of Central Java with 679.5 points.
Jakarta's Renate Nadya Anggara took the bronze with 677.4 points.
In the men's individual air pistol, Saro Zawato Zai and Sholeh, both from Riau, made a one-two finish.
Both registered an equal score of 677.8 points, but given their overall results from qualification and the final, Saro won the gold.
Sutadi of Jakarta took the bronze, scoring 657.2 points.
Riau was still not done firing, though. In the team event, with Dwi Priyo, Saro and Sholeh earned another gold on the day.
The trio of marksmen registered the highest collective score of 1,697 points to win the men's team air pistol final, leaving West Java's team of Tito, Herry Kuswanto and Djoko Wisnu in second with 1,652 points.
East Java's Idsyam Kaplale, Fintian Judi Simandrata and Tri Sujoko took the bronze with 1,640 points.
West Java made amends by winning the men's individual free rifle prone, courtesy of veteran shooter Ari Setiatmoko, making his tenth PON appearance.
The 52-year-old shooter had six bullseye shots out of ten for a total score of 680.6 points.
Among the opponents were his proteges Gatot Puspojudo and Bonnie Bagus of Central Java and Sukarno of East Kalimantan. The three found their mentor too hot to match, languishing in seventh, fourth and third respectively.
"The West Java Sports Council expected me to get at least one gold medal in these Games and I am glad that I have fulfilled expectations. It was a bit tough being under pressure with those expectations," he said.
He then tried to be a good mentor, saying that despite the win he was a little bit disappointed that his students could not score higher than him in the competition.
"They already have the skill but they don't have enough experience in how to read wind direction and the bullet conditions," Ari told The Jakarta Post after the competition.
Ari also competed in the team event of the free rifle prone, but failed to help the team win a medal. Teaming up with Saepullah and Agus Surachman, they finished sixth out of the six teams.
Andy Hendrata, Gatot Puspojudo and Bonnie Bagus won the gold for Central Java followed by East Java's Sahurun, Didi Sanyoto and Puguh Santoso and Jakarta's Rasyid Mursyid, Oscar Zulkan and Parwanto.