Supriati happy despite missing target of winning three SEAG golds
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)