Rina hits four as E. Java maintains archery form

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Palembang

East Java, led by Olympian Rina Dewi Puspitasari, won two more archery gold medals at the National Games on Monday, bringing its gold haul to six in the archery competition.

The two golds on Monday came in the men's and women's team FITA Olympic round 70 meter, with East Java edging out West Java in both events.

Rina, who had already won three golds for East Java, led teammates Dellie Treesya Dinda, Lilies Handayani and Fauri Akadiani to a total score of 231 points in the three-round women's team final.

West Java, consisting of Gina Rahayu, Yasmidar Hamid, Rusena Galanteh and Nurbayaningsih, finished with 229 points.

East Java went out to a 77-75 lead at the first round. It found itself trailing 154-151 in the second round, before wresting control in the third round to secure the victory.

"I'm glad that I helped the team win another gold. This is a team victory," Rina said after the final.

It was a remarkable performance by Rina, whose is making her debut in the quadrennial national event.

Rina earlier won gold in the women's individual and the team 70x2 meters on Saturday, and the individual FITA Olympic round on Sunday.

Her performance here is likely help ease the pain of her early round departure at the Athens Olympics.

"I am pleased with my performance," she said.

Rina will not take part in the traditional category, in which the arrows are released from a seated position. The traditional event starts on Monday.

"I haven't practiced that event for about a year," she said.

Berton Silalahi, an official with the East Java team, said he had told Rina to redeem herself after she failed at the Athens Games.

"Thank God, she has now won four golds in one Games," he said.

East Kalimantan women's team, consisting of Hamdiah, Dahliana, Asti Wulandari and Rini Andriani, took the bronze by beating Lampung 213-206. Lampung lined up Suci Dwi Megasari, Muryanti, Purnama Pandiangan and Yuli Hidayana.

In the men's event, Kuswantoro, Hendra Setiawan, Lukman Wahyudi and Gatot Ariyanto of East Java beat the West Java foursome of Hendro Suprianto, Upuwansyah, Suhendrawan and Budi Sartono by a score of 236-232.

West Java took the lead in the first two rounds, but were unable to maintain their concentration in the third round, allowing East Java to win the gold.

M. Ali Sofyan, M. Noor, Nanang Mudjono took the bronze for East Kalimantan.

East Java was the big medal winner overall, with six golds, one silver and two bronze. It was followed by Central Java with one gold, one silver and one bronze, and Central Kalimantan with one gold.