Yayuk leads Yogyakarta to gold

JAKARTA (JP): World number 29 Yayuk Basuki inspired Yogyakarta to the gold medal after a rain-interrupted women's tennis team final against East Java in the 14th National Games yesterday.

Yayuk, making her return to the Games after missing the 1993 event, played almost flawless tennis. She routed Agustine Limanto 6-1, 6-2 in the first singles match and orchestrated a formidable partnership with Maria Veronika Widyadharma in the decisive doubles match to notch a 2-1 win over the East Javanese.

East Java won the second singles match through Romana Tedjakusuma, who beat lowly Alfrista Fitriasari 6-0, 6-1.

Yayuk clashed with her Olympic doubles teammate Romana in the nerve-wracking doubles decider. The East Javanese duo of Romana and former Fed Cup player Nathalia Soetrisno forced a draining game, but Yayuk's masterful serves and volleys helped the Yogyakartan duo chalk up a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Yogyakarta rested Yayuk in its 0-3 loss to East Java in their final group match on Monday.

In the men's team final, Benny Wijaya silenced his critics with an attacking game that earned Jakarta the gold medal after stunning West Java 2-1.

Benny, who has been under fire for his refusal to play in the Davis Cup, warmed up for his possible final showdown against Suwandi with a morale boosting 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win. West Java pulled level after Davis Cupper Andrian Raturandang tamed veteran Dede Suhendar 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

Jakarta sealed West Java's fate when Benny and Eddy Kusdaryanto joined forces to shoot down Suwandi and Sulistyo Wibowo in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

Indonesia's Olympic women archers demonstrated why they flopped in Atlanta recently when they failed yesterday.

Nurfitriyana

Nurfitriyana Lantang, representing Jakarta, ended the day empty handed, while her fellow Olympian Hamdiah managed only a bronze for East Kalimantan.

Hamdiah's sister and teammate in the Olympics, Dahliana, saved the big names' blushes with her 60-meter triumph to earn East Kalimantan its sole gold medal yesterday.

East Java topped the archery medal tally yesterday, winning three of the eight golds on offer. Lampung grabbed two, while Central Java and Jambi took one apiece.

The country's best trio of Nurfitriyana, Hamdiah and Dahliana have never repeated their top form since winning a bronze in the World Championships here last year. The completed their poor showing with a second-round exit in the Atlanta Games.

Chairman of the Indonesian Archery Association, Oetojo Oesman, blamed a lack of determination for his trio's sub-par performance in Atlanta.

Foury Arkadiani, winner of three golds in the previous Games three years ago, gave East Java its first gold on the archery field when she scored 315 from 70m. Her teammate, Dwi Purwanti, finished second with 312, ahead of Dahliana who managed only 309.

"It's great to beat an Olympian, although I'm not too satisfied with the score I made," Foury said afterward.

Purwanti gave her team another gold after her win in the 50m event, which again saw East Java dominate. Foury took the silver, and the bronze went to Purnama Pandiangan, a member of silver medal winning trio in the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

Hendra Setijawan completed East Java's triumphant run with the men's 70m gold medal.

Dahliana won her gold with a score of 399, beating Purwanti by just two points. Hamdiah finished third with 335. (amd)