Vietnam to emerge as champion of SEA Games
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Hanoi
Host Vietnam confirmed its top position with 150 golds to claim the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games' championship title for the first time.
With only 20 golds up for grabs on the final day on Saturday, the medal standing is unlikely to change. Thailand came in second with 87 golds, followed by Indonesia in third with 53 golds.
The Philippines, thanks to the weight of its nine silvers, wrested fourth place from Malaysia, which equaled the gold-medal count at 43.
Indonesia chef-de-mission Djoko Pramono said the squad was satisfied with their achievement, particularly the younger athletes who composed 70 percent of the delegation.
"With many young athletes competing, we had expected to bring home between 50 and 70 golds. Please, don't just look at the standing -- take a good look at the youths who have shown solid future potential with their outstanding performances here," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
"The SEA Games will be a stepping-stone for our young athletes to make greater achievements at an international level," he said.
The national spikers' success in taking their first gold since 1997 started Indonesia's run of the day, which ended with eight additional golds to its tally.
The men's volleyball team unexpectedly overcame arch rival Thailand 25-19, 25-16, 25-21 in the final in Ninh Binh province, about 93 kilometers of Hanoi.
In the women's marathon, Erni Ulatingsih ran clocked 2:52.28 to claim the gold, while compatriot Feri Subnafeu took the bronze with 2:56:40.
Top-seeded shuttler Sony Dwi Kuncoro recovered from his poor run in the team event to take the men's singles title with a 15- 8, 15-5 victory over rival Wong Choon Hann. Jo Novita and Lita Nurlita won the second gold in the women's doubles in an all- Indonesian final against duo Eny Erlangga and Lilyana Natsir.
Lutfan Budi Santosa, Andi Irsan Anwar and Permata Kemala Sari won three golds in the pencak silat arena, with the Vietnamese team proving to the toughest in the sport originally from Indonesia.
Lody won the men's singles final of sport aerobics to give Indonesia the second gymnastics gold.
Vietnam missed the most prestigious victory in the soccer final after succumbing to Thailand 1-2 time before the packed home crowd at My Dinh Stadium.
Thai Sarayoot Chaikamdee led the defending champion in the second half before Vietnam's Pham Van Quyen equalized in injury time. Sakda Joemdee scored the winning goal in extra time as Thailand consolidated its regional domination.
The host's wrestlers contributed largely to Vietnam's medal collection by flooring its opponents for 12 of the 18 golds at stake, while its marksmen caught 25 golds in its cross-hairs.