Thailand wins Singapore Open

JAKARTA (JP): Thailand, the country which might dominate 19th SEA Games track and field events, romped home in the Singapore Open Sunday with 17 golds, leaving Indonesia without a gold.

Thailand's 64 athletes won the overall title with 17 golds, 11 silvers and six bronzes, proving their billing as the leading ASEAN nation on the track.

Host Singapore, with 30 athletes, only managed second place with two golds, four silvers and seven bronzes.

Australia was third with four golds and two silvers followed by Chinese Taipei with two golds, one silver and three bronzes. China was fifth with 1 gold and 1 bronze.

Indonesia sent 21 athletes and came in sixth place capturing six silvers and three bronzes.

Indonesia's six silver medals were in the men's 4x100 meter relay, women's 4x100 meter relay, and women's pole vault.

One of the bronzes was won by Erwin in the 100 meter men's sprint with a time of 10.60 seconds.

Soochaniach of Thailand won the gold with a time of 10.55 and his fellow countryman Natenee won the silver after clocking 10.58.

Indonesia sent 15 men and six women to the Open. The men were Agustinus Ngamel, Yanis Raubaba, Subakir, Erwin Heru Susanto, Sukari, Ricky Yusuf, Novian Suhendra, Haryanto Suiba, Alfius Kantohe, Rudy Wicaksono, Kristian Kaize, Sukraj Singh, Posianus Kahol, Freddy Mahuse, Rusli.

The women's team were Irene Joseph, Meivia T. Ratnasari, Nitje Durant, Olivia Yakob, Sih Ermawati and Rabaiya.

The Singapore Open was held on Saturday and Sunday. Six countries took part in the tournament. They were Thailand, Singapore, Australia, China, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia.

Tigor Tanjung, the athletics training director, said as he returned here Sunday night that after observing the Singapore Open results it seemed that Thailand's sprinters were still too strong for the other countries participating in the SEA Games.

Thailand dominated the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meters men's and women's relay.

"But we could see that in the men's 4x100 meters relay, Indonesia showed they could compete with the Thai sprinters," Tigor said as quoted by Suara Pembaruan.

Sukari, Subakir, Yanis Raubab and Erwin Heru were on Indonesia's men's 4x100 meters relay team.

Tigor further said that the Singapore Open was a good opportunity for the Indonesian runners to improve for the coming 19th SEA Games in October.

"The Singapore Open gives a good opportunity for Indonesia to observe the strength of Thailand and Singapore," Tigor said. (lnt)