Vietnam, RI split team karate finals

Vietnam, RI split team karate finals

KAJANG, Malaysia (Agencies): Vietnam grabbed three gold medals
in karate Tuesday at the Southeast Asian Games, but host Malaysia
won a final gold to come away with a total of nine and utterly
dominate the sport.

Indonesia and Vietnam came away with four golds each and
contested both the men's and women's team finals Tuesday. The
Vietnamese women and Indonesian men were victorious, and the
medal tallies marked a big accomplishment for up-and-coming
Vietnam and consolation for former powerhouse Indonesia.

For Indonesia, walking away with four golds was an improvement
from the two won in Brunei in 1999, but still a major comedown
from the 15 won in 1997 at home in Jakarta amid controversy over
judging.

"Before, we were number one," said Dr. H. Rahmat Shah, a
senior team official. "We've been slow because of the situation
in the country, but maybe we're on our way back now."

Hasan Basri, 29, an Indonesian student who had four SEA Games
golds under his belt before coming to Malaysia, mined gold in the
under-65 kilograms category Monday and in the team competition
Tuesday.

Though he was one of the older competitors and competing in
his sixth SEA Games, Hasan took heart from his double gold and
issued a warning: "Maybe I'll be back for the next one."

Sonny Simangunsong won a gold for Indonesia in the men's under
70-kilogram category Tuesday. Junel O. Perania of the Philippines
took the silver, while Lee Yung Siang of Singapore and Muniandi
Rajoo of Malaysia shared bronze.

The Malaysian victory went to Tiagu Ponniyah in the men's 80-
kilogram category, with a 9-7 edge over Thailand's Saner
Jaritrum. Sudirman, an Indonesian who uses only one name, and
Tran Hai Ha shared the bronzes.

The ninth gold was one more than Malaysian officials had hoped
for in the 19 karate events, and in the view of Mohamad Noor
Nordin, first vice president of the Malaysian Karate Federation,
it was enough.

"It's bad for the sport if one team wins all the medals,"
Mohamad said.

Pham Hung Ha, who won Vietnam's first gold ever in the under-
48 kilogram division Sunday, clinched the team victory in the
third bout and was overcome with emotion, collapsing into the
arms of her teammates and weeping as she was nearly carried from
the arena. Malaysia and the Philippines split the bronzes.

"This is the very best day for Vietnam," said Vietnamese head
coach Le Cong. "I'm very proud of my girls. All my student were
very brave. My heart is glad."

Earlier, Vietnam captured the individual open categories, with
Nguyen Thi Thu Tang triumphant for the women and Vu Quoc Huy for
the men.

The Philippines won two karate golds Sunday.