Runaway leader Jakarta hits badminton double
Runaway leader Jakarta hits badminton double
Eva C. Komandjaja and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Palembang
The Jakarta badminton squad won on Sunday the two gold medals
on offer to help the capital consolidate its lead in the National
Games (PON).
Jakarta, whose long-standing domination in the overall medal
tally in the quadrennial sporting spectacle crashed at the hands
of host Surabaya in 2000, leads the standings with 26 gold medals
as of 8:30 p.m. West Java standard time.
West Java is in second with 22 golds, followed by Central Java
with 17, reigning champion East Java in fourth and North Sumatra
fifth.
The latter two had collected 12 golds, but East Java had a
greater silver haul at 17 against 4.
While it is struggled to defend its championship title, East
Java suffered a blow in the country's most prestigious sport,
badminton.
In front of more than 2,000 spectators packing the Dempo
Badminton Hall in Jakabaring, shuttler Sony, who contributed a
bronze to Indonesia in Athens, avenged his loss in the group
matches by beating young shuttler Simon Santoso in the first
match of the final.
His 15-5, 15-6 win was not enough to produce gold, as the East
Java team squandered its lead.
Jeffer Rosobin doubled East Java's lead to 2-0 after he
defeated former national player Ronny Agustinus 15-10, 15-11.
The turning of the tide came in the third match between
Hendrawan and Taufik Akbar.
Leading 7-2, Hendrawan suffered an injury when trying to
return a smash from Taufik. He was checked by the team's medic,
then continued the game.
However, Hendrawan staggered in his play, and Taufik
capitalized to win the first game 15-10. He scratched the second
game to hand Taufik a win and Jakarta a lifeline.
Jakarta evened the score to 2-2 with doubles team Candra
Wijaya/Markis Kidho winning 15-12, 15-4 over Tri
Kusharjanto/Raymond, and advanced to the decisive second match.
With Alvent Yulianto sitting out due to allergies, East Java
seemed destined to lose, as Agus Setiawan/Jeffer Rosobin lacked
experience.
Nova Widianto/Hendra Setiawan proved too strong for
Agus/Jeffer, breezing to a 15-2, 15-8 victory and earning Jakarta
the gold.
"I was actually a bit surprised with the win since I didn't
expect the men's team to win the gold medal. We were expecting a
gold only from the women's team," said Icuk Sugiarto, a Jakarta
player.
Jakarta not only claimed a surprise win in men's badminton,
but also fulfilled its expectations for the women's final over
Central Java, with Silvi winning over Maria Kristin 11-7, 13-12
and Jo Novita/Vita Marissa edging Purwanti/Lellyana 15-11, 15-5.
Meanwhile, Central Java moved up in the rankings thanks to its
high-flying shooters Dinnie Ary, Shilla Prasasti, Andy Hendrata,
Gatot Puspojudo and Bonnie Bagus, who broke three national
records as the team took four of five golds available on Sunday.
Jakarta's golds came from wushu (2), fencing (1), tarung
drajat (1), rolling skater (1) and shooting (1).
West Java continued its winning run in the equestrian event by
winning another two golds, and two more in tarung drajat.
Jambi, as expected, dominated the swimming competition by
sweeping six of eight golds on offer.
However, the fourth day of the National Games was overshadowed
by the death of Capt. Supardi, the South Sumatra aerosports
coach, due to heart attack and the event in Sekayu, Musi
Banyuasin, was canceled.
Monday will mark the start of the marquee track and field
competition, which provides eight gold medals on the opening day.