Stiff competition in powerlifting contest

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

No one province got the edge on the opening day of powerlifting in the National Weightlifting and Powerlifting Championships on Tuesday, with athletes from Lampung, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, West Sumatra, Central Java, Riau and West Java seizing golds.

With weightlifting ending on Monday, the powerlifting contest began on Tuesday with the women's 44-kg division.

Lena Jaya of Riau took the gold for the overall lift with 345 kilograms and in the dead lift with 150 kg, but Miranti of West Kalimantan stole the gold in the bench press with 80 kg, and Heni Rahayu of West Java won gold in squat with 135 kg.

"Competition is quite stiff, so it is only to be expected that I couldn't win in every category," Lena said.

In the women's 48-kg division, Herlina of West Sumatra grabbed two golds in squat (152 kg) and in total lift (357.5 kg). Silvi of East Kalimantan took the gold in dead lift with 145 kg, while Siti Mulyana of Lampung lifted 70 kg for the bench press top honors.

In the men's 52-kg class, Adrizal of West Sumatra won three golds in squat (170 kg), bench press (87.5 kg) and total lift (422.5 kg), but was forced to settle for silver in the dead lift.

Sanu of Jateng took the gold in dead lift with 180 kgs.

Later in the day, Elphi Erlinayani of West Kalimantan, competing in the women's 52-kg class, also won four golds in squat (185 kg), bench press (80 kg), dead lift (170 kg) and total lift (435 kg).

Dian Ros of East Java won gold in the bench press with 97.5 kg, but the decision was reversed after she failed to lift the barbell in the dead lift session.

East Java coach Suswanto protested the revocation of the medal, saying the a gold was awarded in every category, not only for the total lift.

His protest was rejected by the judges.

In the women's 56-kg division, Mardiana of Lampung collected three golds in bench press (102.5 kg), dead lift (165 kg), and total lift (422.5 kg).

The gold in squat was seized by Besinah of West Java with a lift of 160 kg.

"I think I won too easily, but I think my victory was also due to the absence of the 2004 National Games winners," said the 18 year old, who finished fourth in the Games in Palembang.