Salatiga teen brings pride to Indonesia

Tue, 12 Dec 1995, 00:00 WIB

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.