Richard good as gold in 50m freestyle

Richard good as gold in 50m freestyle

By Ivy Susanti

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Veteran Richard Sam Bera remained
Indonesia's hero in the pool on Wednesday by winning the 50
meters freestyle at Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.

He contributed the country's lone gold from a haul which also
included two silvers and three bronzes, the fourth highest number
of medals on the day. Thailand was tops with 11 golds, nine
silvers and five bronzes, followed by Malaysia and Singapore.

Richard, 27, won in 23.49 seconds, edging compatriot Wisnu
Wardhana (23.71) and Singapore's Leslie Kwok Ying-wah (23.79).

Richard was disappointed by his failure to break the 10-year-
old Games record of 23.27.

"I was a little nervous. I was not too fit this morning
because I only had a few hours of rest." He took part in the
4x100m freestyle event on Tuesday night and competed in the heats
at 8 a.m. local time.

Indonesia's M. Akbar Nasution earned the bronze in the men's
200m breaststroke, behind gold medalist Elvin Chia and Thai
Ratapong Sirisanont.

"Rattapong has beaten me many times. I didn't expect to beat
him. I just wanted to break my personal best. But Rattapong told
me 'good job' after the race," Chia said.

Games first-timer Akbar, 16, said he was pleased with his
bronze and hoped to compete in the Olympics.

Another Malaysian Dieung AK Manggang claimed the gold in the
1,500m freestyle in 15:57.47. Filipino Juan Carlo Piccio was
second (15:57.85), followed by Indonesian Steven Chandra
(16:02.63).

Trailing at the final turn, Manggang edged Piccio in the
stretch.

"I didn't expect to win. The other swimmers tried to beat me
by coming from behind. I kept telling myself that my legs were
stronger and I could kick faster than them."

Thailand's Pilin Tachakittiranan seems destined to take over
the title of swimming queen from Singapore's Joscelin Yeo.

In a remarkable debut, Tachakittiranan collected six golds in
the 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 4x100m relay freestyle,
4x200m relay freestyle, 200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relay.
She also won a silver in the 100m freestyle.

Yeo earned four golds in the 100m freestyle, 100m
breaststroke, 100m butterfly stroke, 200m individual medley and a
bronze in the 400m freestyle.

Yeo cited a nagging elbow injury in her decision to scratch
from three events on Wednesday.

"She injured her right elbow after competing in the 100m
butterfly on Tuesday," said coach David Lim. "We decided to give
her a two-day rest. We'll wait and see about her condition in the
next 24 hours, and hopefully she'll be all right and can compete
on Friday."

Tachakittiranan, 16, will compete in the 50m freestyle and
200m butterfly on Friday.

"I have not set any medal target for the year's event. I'll
try my best. I'm not so sure about my chances in the butterfly
event because I think my compatriot Praphalsai Minpraphal could
be a tough rival."

Indonesia's divers Husaini Noor and Muhammad Nasrullah won
silver and bronze respectively in the men's 10m platform diving
event. Malaysian Yeoh Ken Nee took the gold.