Yuyun finished fifth at Asian X Games

PHUKET, Thailand (JP): Indonesia's Yuyun Yuniarti failed to impress in the wall climbing difficulty event final at the Asian X Games Qualifier here yesterday.

Yuyun, a late recruit to the Indonesian team for the radical sports competition, had to settle for fifth place with South Korean Huang Bai-li after failing to scale the 18-meter wall.

A dejected Yuyun gave no excuses but blamed herself for the loss.

"I was not ready for the competition because I lacked practice ahead of this event. I underwent intensive training only in the past month, to tell you the truth," she told The Jakarta Post.

Another South Korean, Sun Go-mi, won the gold medal at the expense of her closest rival, Rie Kimura of Japan. Both managed to reach the top, but the judges awarded the gold to the South Korean because she beat Kimura in the semifinal round earlier in the day.

Sun, who powered her way to the top amid cheers from the dozens-strong crowd, had no troubles on her way to the peak. She screamed for joy as soon as she finished her climb.

Indonesian team manager Hendricus Mutter said Sun and Kimura were streets ahead of the rest of finalists. Only the top eight in the semifinal round qualified for the final.

"They deserve the medals. Korean and Japanese climbers are still the best in Asia," he said.

Another Japanese climber, Akemi Toyoda, won the bronze, while Kim Heun-cheoung of South Korea grabbed fourth place.

Indonesia can make up for its loss today when Ronald Mamarimbing competes in the final of the men's category.

He will take on rivals from Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

The climbers will compete head-to-head in the speed category tomorrow. (cst)