Runaway leader Jakarta hits double badminton win
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.