Taufan wins Indonesia's first gold in kumite
Taufan wins Indonesia's first gold in kumite
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Arif Taufan Syamsuddin restored
Indonesia's pride in the karate competition at the 20th Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games here on Tuesday with a gold medal in the men's
below-60-kilogram division.
The Asian Games champion outpointed home crowd favorite
Mohammad Fadilah Sanif 5-3 for his team's lone gold on the
penultimate day of the karate event, in which Indonesia also
earned a silver and two bronzes.
With four more gold medals up for grabs in the final program
on Wednesday, Indonesia has high hopes of achieving a seven-gold
haul. Indonesia has now collected six golds in karate, equaling
Malaysia, which picked up two more golds from Rajoo Muniandy in
the men's below-70kg class and Kong Tai Moon in the men's below-
65kg category.
Indonesia's best hope in the women's below-53kg class, Sandra
Aryani, could not maintain her composure, capitulating 0-5 to Vu
Kim Anh in the final. Hasan Basri and Sonny Simangunsong failed
to reach the finals and had to be content with bronzes in
respectively the men's below 65-kg and below 70-kg divisions.
Secretary-General of the Indonesian Karate-Do Federation
(FORKI), Hendardji Soepandji, said he projected three more golds
from Isfan Rahfisal Tanjung in the men's below 55-kg division,
Novilus Yoku in the men's open class and Lia Nurlianty in the
women's below 48-kg class.
Taufan staved off a strong challenge from feisty Fadilah,
triumphing in front of the pro-Fadilah crowd who packed the Royal
Brunei Airlines Sports Hall. Brunei was bidding to win its first
gold ever in karate.
The 24-year-old Indonesian fell to his knees in joy as soon as
the referee awarded the victory to him.
"Fadilah put up an all-out fight, but his skills were not
enough to beat me. I didn't underestimate him, but I think I was
more prepared than him," Taufan said.
Brunei's Indonesian coach Gustaf Yusuf Lineleyan said he was
not disappointed in his protege's performance.
"Of course I wish Fadilah won the match. But even though he
lost, I was great to see him reach the final. His strict
discipline during practice sessions impressed me," Yusuf said.
Yusuf coached Taufan before moving to Brunei in June last
year.
Protest lodged
Indonesia lodged another protest over alleged unfair
refereeing, which it claimed had cost Sonny the chance of
reaching the final. He lost to eventual gold medalist Rajoo.
Indonesian team manager Boy Crain accused the Kuwaiti referee
of lacking impartiality.
"The referee gave controversial judgments three times at our
expense," an upset Boy said.
Sonny said he was concerned because the panel of judges did
not award him points for landing a series of punches in the dying
minutes. Rajoo fought back and clinched winning points.
But 23-year-old Sonny said the defeat did not discourage him.
"I'm still young and my career has a long way to go."
FORKI's official in charge of international relations, Albert
Paruntu said he had urged the council of referees to keenly
observe the matches.
"It's not just about unfair judgments. The referees should
have not missed the flags being raised by the judges," he said.
(ivy)