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)