Thailand takes over the lead from Malaysia
By Novan Iman Santosa
KUALA LUMPUR (JP): A win in the men's soccer fired Thailand to the top of the provisional medal standings at the expense of host Malaysia on Saturday as the 21st Southeast Asian Games here braces for a pulsating finale.
The region's past sports power, Indonesia, remains a distant third despite a haul of 10 gold medals on Saturday. A failure in the badminton women's singles final cost it another gold.
With the 10-day regional meet drawing to a close in two days, Thailand took over the lead with an overall 88 golds, against Malaysia's collection of 86. Indonesia lingers behind with 62 golds.
Thailand retained the soccer gold medal with a 1-0 win, after a cross from Sarawut Treephan deflected off the back of Malaysian keeper Kamarulzaman Hassan and into the net just three minutes from the final whistle.
But Thailand's big day was at the track and field where it reaped nine of the 15 golds at stake.
Indonesia shared the gold medal celebration, although it only won one through Ni Putu Desy Margawaty in the women's pole vault. Desy leapt 3.90 meters, setting a new SEA Games record.
"I am glad that I could contribute one gold medal today although it is still below my personal best," she told reporters while waiting for the medal presentation ceremony.
While Desy celebrated, Irene Truitje Joseph left the pitch in dejection after finishing second in the 200m, which was her second failure following her defeat in the 100m.
The Indonesian athletes were also triumphant in badminton, archery, tennis, sailing and judo competitions.
The badminton team won three golds: Deyana Lomban/Vita Marissa in the women's doubles, Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto in the men's doubles and Nova Widhianto/Vita Marissabut in the mixed doubles, the last two ties decided in all-Indonesian tussles.
But it must have rued missing in the women's singles when Lidya Djaelawijaya lost to Sujittra Eakmonkpaisorn 11-8, 11-7. Indonesian shuttlers had also been denied the men's singles title, which eventually went to home favorite Roslin Hashim.
Indonesia also won two golds in the tennis, which also saw competition between teammates.
Romana Tedjakusuma beat Wynne Prakusya 7-5, 6-2 for the singles gold, the second after her 1993 success. Wynne and Yayuk Basuki, who are both regular players on the pro tour, then beat Romana and Angelique Widjaja 6-2, 6-1 in the doubles.
Indonesia can expect more when Suwandi takes on Danai Udomchoke of Thailand in the men's singles final on Sunday. Suwandi beat Selvam Veerasingam of Malaysia, 6-2, 6-3, Danai edged out Peter Handoyo of Indonesia 6-1, 6-3.
Bonit Wiryawan and Angelique Widjaja also marched to the final with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Selvam Veerasingam and Khoo Chin Bee.
After a dismal run in the individual competition, the archery squad came back with a clean sweep in team events.
Rusena Gelanteh, Gina Rahayu and Suci Dwi Megasari won the women's competition, while Veteran Syafrudin Mawi, starlets Kuswantoro and Lockoneco were Indonesia's male victors.
Gusti Made Oka Sulaksana seemed to have shrugged off the effects of illness in winning the mistral board race after scoring 10 points. The Bali-based athlete was reported to have contracted typhoid just days before the competition.
Indonesian judokas collected their third gold medal, courtesy of Endang Sri List, who beat Sitthida Hassap of Thailand in the women's lightweight category. Le Thi Thanh Tu of Vietnam and Malasan ElMarie of the Philippines took the bronzes.