Supriati wins RI first gold, India's Singh makes new record

Supriati wins RI first gold, India's Singh makes new record

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women's long-distance runner Supriati
Sutono presented the first gold medal ever to the host country in
the Asian Track and Field Championships on Monday.

But it was Indian Shakti Singh who took center stage on the
opening day as he set a new record in the men's shot put en route
to victory.

In the medals tally, India leads with two golds followed by
Indonesia, China, Qatar and Kazakhstan with one gold each.

Supriati clocked 33 minutes 47.24 seconds to finish first,
followed by Aruna Devi of India in 34:31.15 and Hong Myong-hui of
North Korea in 35:27.50.

Indonesia's best achievement at the event dates back to 1985
when Purnomo took silver in both the men's 100 meters and 200m
dashes and Emma Tahapary won the bronze in the women's 400m.

Despite the victory, Supriati, who also won Indonesia's first
Asian Games track and field gold medal in 36 years in 1998, was
disappointed as she failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in
Sydney next month. The qualifying time for the Games is 33:20.00.

"I failed to push myself to run much faster as I had been
leading since the early laps. It's not challenging to run alone
in front. I'm really disappointed. I feel the victory is
incomplete," she told a post-match conference.

"My preparation was also very short as I had to take a break
for eight months after I injured my right ankle in the 1999
Southeast Asian Games in Brunei. I just started practicing in
March."

Supriati, who will also run in the women's 5,000m on Thursday,
pledged not to waste her second chance to qualify for the
Olympics.

Supriati will have to run 15:55.00 to meet the Olympic
qualifying mark. Her best time is 15:54.45.

Coach Nicky Pattiasina said: "I just hope she's in good enough
condition to run below the Olympic limit. I don't expect her to
win medals, just qualify (for Sydney Games)."

Singh threw 19.77m to break the old meet record of 19.17m
created by Mubarak Bilal Saad of Qatar in July 1998.

Bilal Saad only finished second with 19.23m followed by Wen
Jili of China in third place with 18.18.

India's second gold came from Neelam J Singh who threw 60.75m
in the women's discus. Cao Qi and Li Yanfeng of China took the
silver and bronze respectively after throwing 58.71 and 57.52.

Chinese Li Xiaoxue won the gold in the women's hammer with a
throw of 59.02m. Yuka Murofushi was in second place with 58.64,
followed by compatriot Masuma Aya with 55.97.

Ahmed Ibrahim of Qatar clocked 29 minutes 53 seconds to claim
the gold medal in the men's 10,000m. Gulab Chand of India took
the silver after running 30:03.75, while Chinese Ke Gong earned
the bronze after creating 30:05.11.

President Abdurrahman Wahid officially opened the
championships, which saw a small number of spectators. Local and
foreign journalists complained about the slow compilation of
results.

There will be seven finals on Tuesday.

Results

Men's shot put: 1. Shakti Singh (Ind) 19.77 meters, 2.
Bilal Saad Mubarak (Qat) 19.23, 3. Wen Jili (Chn) 18.18

Women's triple jump: 1. Yelena Parfyonova (Kaz) 14.08, 2.
Miao Chunking (Chn) 14.01, 3. Maho Hanaoka (Jpn) 13.67

Women's hammer throw: 1. Li Xiaoxue (Chn) 59.02, 2. Yuka
Murofushi (Jpn) 58.64, 3. Masumi Aya (Jpn) 55.97

Women's discus: 1. Neelam Singh (Ind) 60.75, 2. Qi Cao
(Chn) 58.71, 3. Li Yanfeng (Chn) 57.52

Women's 10,000 meters: 1. Supriati Sutono (Ina) 33 minutes
47.24 seconds, 2. L. Aruna Devi (Ind) 34:31.15, 3. Hui Hong Myong
(N. Kor) 35:27.50

Men's 10,000 meters: 1. Ahmed Ibrahim (Qat) 29 minutes 53.00
seconds, 2. Gulab Chand (Ind) 30:03.75, 3. Ke Gong (Chn) 30:05.11

Medals tally (Gold, silver, bronze, total)

India (2, 2, 0, 4), China (1, 2, 3, 6), Qatar (1, 1, 0, 2),
Indonesia (1, 0, 0, 1), Kazakhstan (1, 0, 0, 1), Japan
(0, 1, 2, 3), N. Korea (0, 0, 1, 1) (yan)