Salatiga teen brings pride to Indonesia

Tue, 12 Dec 1995

By Dwiatmanta

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (JP): A little-known teenager from Salatiga, Central Java, salvaged Indonesia's wounded pride yesterday as the country fell further behind host Thailand in the medals' chase on the third day of the Southeast Asian Games.

Thailand bagged 10 more golds to bring its total to 27, while Indonesia, the defending champion, managed six golds bringing its total to 10.

Indonesia's six golds were contributed by Rumini Sudragni in the women's 10,000-meter run, Temmy Kusuma in the one-meter springboard diving, Richard Sambera in the 100-meter freestyle swimming, Sodikin in the weightlifting 64 kilogram category, Nurhayati in the women's cycling 3-km individual pursuit, and Phie Hengky in the men's 86-95 kilogram category in judo.

Running barefoot, 16-year-old Rumini surprised not only the field, but also the entire Indonesian camp by clinching the women's 10,000 meters event. Rumini had been fielded as Indonesia's second runner to Triasih Handayani, who only managed seventh place.

Not only did Rumini win the gold, she also broke the Games' record, finishing in 35 minutes, 21.43 seconds. "I feel so happy. My target a bronze, not a gold," she said later.

Rumini's win was the only victory Indonesia could boast of in the track and field, which has been a gold mine for host Thailand and the Philippines.

In the pool, Indonesia fared slightly better on third day with two golds, after a poor start on Sunday which Indonesian officials blamed on a pro-Thai jury.

Temmy Kusuma's score of 375.21 points in the one-meter springboard diving yesterday served as revenge after Sunday's humiliation, in which Indonesia failed to win a single gold. Temmy edged past hometown favorite Suchat Pichi, who had earlier won the three-meter event.

Temmy, a student from Jakarta, clinched his victory in the last jump. "To be honest, I didn't expect to win, especially in view of the jury, which had favored the home team on Sunday," he said.

Indonesian officials had earlier threatened to withdraw from the pool competition if the jury continued to be unfair.

Indonesian veteran swimmer Richard made it a one-two with fellow Jakartans to win the gold and silver in the 100-meter freestyle, with Richard finishing in 0:52.97 seconds.

Weightlifting contributed Indonesia's third gold yesterday with veteran SEA Games Sodikin of West Java lifting 120 kg in snatch and 155 kg in clean and jerk for a total of 275 kg. He failed to match the Games's clean-and-jerk record of 165.5 kg which he gained at the last SEA Games.

Sodikin's victory was not expected. At 30 years of age, he was considered past his prime.

Nurhayati's victory in the cycling three-km individual pursuit healed the disappointment she suffered on Sunday, when the Indonesian favorite lost the 25-km individual time trial.

Indonesian officials have lodged a complaint with the organizers, saying that Nurhayati was deprived of a victory in the individual time trial by a Thai motorcycle escort which got in her way at a crucial moment.