Sony fails to advance

Moch. N. Kurniawan and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sony Dwi Kuncoro failed to advanced in the badminton competition while Jakarta began to appear increasingly formidable at the halfway mark of the National Games here on Tuesday.

Sony, who contributed one of Indonesia's two bronzes at the Athens Olympics, crashed to Marleve Mainaky of West Java 15-2, 12-15, 10-15 in the quarterfinal matches at the Jakabaring Badminton Hall.

As of 8:40 p.m. local time, Jakarta topped the table with a total of 63 golds.

West Java was a distant second with 43 golds. Reigning champion from 2000, East Java increased its medal haul to 31 golds to climb to third place.

Jakarta won two golds in track and field on Tuesday, the same as Central Java on the second day of competition, which nevertheless produced uninspiring performances by the medal winners.

The lone highlight on the track was in the women's discus competition, in which Darminah of Central Java managed to break the Games record. Her throw of 45.97 meters compared to the previous record of 45.95 meters.

The host team South Sumatra added three golds to its medal collection: one each from fencing, swimming and athletics.

By the midway point in the competition, all 30 provinces had collected medals. However, Bangka Belitung, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, Gorontalo and North Maluku have all yet to win a gold.

East Java diver Husaini Noor and Riau shooter Saro Zawato Zai joined the group of athletes who have won a total of four golds at the Games. Earlier, Rina Dewi Puspitasari of East Java won four golds in the archery competition.

East Java's lunge into the third place was boosted by the success by its volleyballers, who advanced to the finals.

East Java's volleyball squad has the chance of making it a double victory after its men and women won their semifinal matches on Tuesday.

The men's team, winner in 2000, beat Jakarta 25-23, 25-24, 23- 25, 25-15 to take on Yogyakarta in the final. Yogyakarta came from behind to book a ticket in the final in its 22-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-19 win over West Java.

For the women's competition, it will be East Java against Jakarta in the final.

While Jakarta chalked up an easy 25-5, 25-11, 25-11 win over South Sumatra, East Java had to battle it out against rival West Java before winning 16-25, 27-25, 25-21, 12-25, 15-6.

Apart from Sony's surprise exit, other favorite Taufik Hidayat, who won the only Indonesian gold in Athens, advanced to the semifinals after edging out Jefer R of East Java 15-8, 5-15, 15-9.

In the semifinals, he will meet Wiempie Mahardi of North Sumatra, who beat Agus Setiawan of East Java 15-8, 15-1.