Vietnam awards Indonesian coach

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's pencak silat coach, Suhartono, received the Huan Chuong Lao Dong Hang Ba award from Vietnam President Tran Duc Luong in Hanoi last week.

Suhartono also received the Huan Chuong VI Su Nghiep The Duc The Thao award from the Vietnam National Olympics Committee, Antara reported.

Suhartono, who has been coaching Vietnamese pencak silat fighters since 1995, was able to bring the country to earning seven gold medals, four silvers and three bronzes in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam last month.

The result was double that of the 1997 Games here, in which Vietnam took home three golds, three silvers and two bronzes. (yan)