Umar wins gold as Indonesia Tiger captures overall title

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Umar Syarif took home one of the two gold medals for the host team on the final day of the Indonesian Open karate tournament as the Indonesia Tiger emerged as the overall winner after three days of heavy competition.

The tournament, which featured 16 teams from 15 countries, ended at the Bung Karno indoor tennis stadium on Thursday with the Tigers finishing on top with five golds.

Malaysia also captured the same number of golds but added two silvers to its medal tally while the Tiger earned five.

The Indonesia Buffalo, made up of athletes in training camp for the 2002 Asian Games to be held in Busan, South Korea, ended up in third place with four golds.

Angela Fitri Damarsari of the Indonesia Buffalo was the other gold medalist from the host squad, winning 8-1 over Indonesia Tiger member Dian Purnama Sari in the open female kumite category.

Umar came from behind to overcome Muttalib M. Albargawi of Saudi Arabia in the over-80 kilogram male kumite category.

The 25-year-old Indonesian, who felt overlooked in the selection of athletes for the Asian Games, was trailing 2-4 before he rebounded with a punishing kick and a host of unrelenting punches to send him to a 9-4 victory.

He promptly told the Indonesian Karate-do Association (Forki) that he deserved a berth at the Asian Games. Umar had been a national team ace before his defeat at the 2001 SEA Games, which seemed to cost him his inclusion.

Forki is grooming six athletes for the Asian Games.

"Being looked down on and considered an underdog made me relaxed. I felt no pressure," he commented to The Jakarta Post on his victory, his lips showing a minor bruise he received in the fight.

Asked if he was ready to be added to the lineup, he replied diplomatically: "I have already made karate my career choice. If they need me for the Asian Games, I would consider it a call to duty."

Indonesia Tiger head coach Zulkarnaen Purba, at a news conference held earlier, complimented his protege, saying that it was redeeming for Umar that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

"It was not an easy road to the final. And it was even harder being up against an Arabian," Purba said.

Australia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Iran were the other four countries snagging gold medals, while Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea returned home with no single medal.