Supriati happy despite missing target of winning three SEAG golds

KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Indonesian top middle-distance runner Supriati Sutono saw her bid for a triple gold medal victory at the 21st Southeast Asian Games, lost by a whisker on Friday but her face was still all smiles.

She has alreay announced that this year's Games would be her last international cap. Supriati will now focus on her private life: having a baby and resuming her military service.

"Although I missed a hat-trick of gold medals and new records, I am still happy with the way I performed over the last three days. I have given all of my strength to my country," said Supriati after finishing second in her last race over 1,500 meters at the National Stadium here.

Supriati, Asian Games 5,000m gold medalist, set the early pace on Friday. Phyu War Thet of Myanmar closely flanked the Indonesian until the final 200 meters when she sped up and took over the lead.

While both runners kept up with each other, Phan Dinh Khanh Doan of Vietnam sneaked up unnoticed and burst to the finish line first with an explosive sprint in the last 50 meters.

The Vietnamese clocked 4 minutes 21.87 seconds, still outside Supriati's SEA Games record of 4:21.50 set in Jakarta four years ago. Supriati did win her neck-to-neck battle with Phyu, but had to be content with the silver in 4:25.44. The Myanmarese came in third with a time of 4:26.64.

Supriati admitted that she had been burned out after winning her first two races in record-breaking times over 10,000m and 5,000m.

"I have been so tired running in consecutive events over three days without a break. There should have been a rest day between races," she said.

"Perhaps it was because Malaysia didn't participate in the middle-distance runs, the SEA Games officials did not arrange a schedule that took athlete's physical condition into account."

When asked whether she would defend her title at the Asian Games next year in Pusan, South Korea, she firmly stated that it was not part of her agenda.

Supriati's commanding officer, Lt. Col. Hamzah, has said he would recommend that Supriati go to the Army School of Officers, which means a promotion after the Games.

"Of course it will fully depend on the Army's top brass to decide, but the Army always gives opportunities to its soldiers to improve their career," he said.

Born on June 24, 1972 in Cilacap, Central Java, Supriati is an Army sergeant and has been serving at the Physical Department of the Army School of Officers in Bandung since 1994.

Her husband, also a sergeant, is studying at the school as well. (nvn)