Silver medalist Indonesia sets new record in archery

Musthofid The Jakarta Post Hanoi

Indonesia's male archers set a new SEA Games record, but ended on Friday with a silver on the final day of the men's team archery competition at the National Sports Training Center in Hanoi.

Earlier, their female compatriots had to be content with a bronze behind gold medalist the Philippines and silver Malaysia.

Spearheaded by Kuswantoro, the Indonesian men scored a cumulative 245 points to pound Laos early on. The score was two points better than the record score of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

Indonesia kept its winning form to beat Thailand 244-231 in the semifinals, but failed against Malaysia in the final with a 232-236 defeat in a nerve-wrecking match, in which three players alternated hitting the target over the course of three rounds.

Idle teammates, who had already completed their matches, cheered on their teams.

In the first two rounds, Indonesia led 160-157, when a bizarre incident involving Kuswantoro wrecked Indonesia's hopes.

Kuswantoro, who was aiming at the target with his third arrow of the third round, had placed his arrow incorrectly on the arrow rest and decided to retreat and give way to Syafrudin Mawi.

The Malaysian team, featuring gold medalist Muhammad Marbawi, did not lose ground to reduce the gap. When Kuswantoro carried out his unfinished shot, Malaysia was leading 236-227.

Kuswantoro hit a poor 5 to the disappointment of officials and supporters. Looking shocked, Kuswantoro sagged into his seat.

"We held the upper hand after two rounds, but a mistake, albeit minor, spoiled our game," Donald Pandiangan said. The third Indonesian player was Permadi Sandra Wibowo.

Malaysian coach Lee Jae-hyung, who had a three-year stint coaching in Indonesia before moving to Malaysia in 2000, said the Indonesian team was the favorites. "We played it out unperturbed, whatever the result may be. The pressure was on Indonesia," he said.

Earlier, Rina Puspita Dewi, Rusena Galanteh and Suci Megasari, with reserve archer Eniwaty, took the bronze with a 231-222 victory in the semifinals.

The Philippines, which edged out Indonesia in the semifinals, beat Malaysia in the final to take the gold.