Upset RP karatekas walk out of competition

By Sylvia Gratia Miranda

JAKARTA (JP): The Philippine team bid an angry and abrupt farewell to the karate competition yesterday in a fit of pique over refereeing.

Deputy president of the Philippines Karate-Do Federation, German L. Lopez, said his team had walked out because several referees were inconsistent in their decisions.

"We had better go shopping or do something nice than play in this collusion," Lopez said.

Team managers and coaches had discussed the judging in a meeting with officials on Friday, he added.

"The referees and judges said they appreciated our opinions and they promised the judging would be conducted fairly, but until today there was no improvement in judging."

Controversy erupted after Baron Bahar of Indonesia was declared winner of his individual kumite, 80 kg and below, preliminary bout against Malaysia's Arivalagan Ponniyah despite an earlier fall.

The Philippines charged the refereeing was inconsistent as its athlete, Khim Torres, had been counted out after a fall against Malaysia's Suresh Rao Subramaniam in the same weight division.

Indonesia's karate team manager Boy Crain said the Philippine walkout was sour grapes because its squad had won only one gold.

"Baron was not troubled by the fall because he could stand up, while the Filipino could not," he said.

Baron, in another bout marred by dispute, beat Subraniam for gold. Ponniyah and Torres got bronze, but the Filipino did not attend the medal ceremony.

Despite clamoring complaints from the Philippines and Malaysia, the host karatekas grabbed all but one of the five golds available yesterday.

Indonesia's first gold was bagged in the men's individual kumite, 65 kg and below, through Hasan Basri, who beat Lorenzo Enrique of the Philippines. Bronzes went to Hasan's compatriot Rajiun Laode and Kong Tai Moon of Malaysia.

In the men's individual kumite, 75 kg and below, Indonesia's Tommy Firman beat Thiagu Ponniyah of Malaysia for gold. Filipino Pedro Roldan and Tong Kit Siong of Brunei shared the bronzes.

In the men's individual kumite 80 kg and above, Umar Syarief of Indonesia beat Manan Haji Mahmud of Malaysia in a tough battle. Compatriot Asarumada and Malaysan Thennavan Ponniyah were third.

Before the walkout, Filipino Ryan Bonifacio beat compatriot Ericson Fermin in men's individual kumite, 70 kg and below. Indonesia's Novilus Yoku and Syamsudin won the bronzes.