Hosts Indonesia make a big statement

Hosts Indonesia, powered by roller skaters and taekwondo exponents, overtook overnight leaders Thailand to move atop the medal standings in the 26th South East Asian Games here yesterday.

At press time, Thailand’s Nongnuch Sanrat and Indonesian runner Serafi Anelies clocked an identical 11.69 seconds in the women’s 100m event and the result of who would emerge as the women’s fastest runner in the SEA Games was to be decided after studying photo evidence. Two-time champion Vu Thi Huong from Vietnam took bronze.

In the men’s 100m, two-time champion Suryo Agung Wibowo did not compete this time, but Indonesia remained strong in the event, with team-mate Frainklin clocking 10.37s to win gold. Thailand’s Wachara Sondee came third.

Yesterday, journalists covering the Games in Palembang, the main host city, lodged complaints about insufficient seating arrangements at the Main Press Centre to the Games organisers.

According to a Thai journalist who did not want to disclose his name, there are only 50 chairs and tables in the press centre, while more than 100 Indonesian and foreign journalists are there at the centre every day to cover the Games.

 “I have been covering SEA Games for several years, but this is the first time that I had been forced to work on the floor. There is no chair and table available for other journalists, as only 50 have been provided in the working room,” he said.

 “Most Thai journalists as well as those from other nations could not help but work on the floor. Life was not tough like this before. Aside from the insufficient number of chairs and tables, the computer system that gives out results of each competition did not work. We have to wait patiently for the final results. I think Indonesia are not well prepared to host these Games, but they have been apologising for the inconvenience,” he added.

In the track and field competition, where a total of 11 gold medals were at stake yesterday, hot favourites Wong Tuck Yim from Singapore and Filipina Torres Marestella retained their titles in the men’s discus throw and women’s long jump respectively. Thailand’s Kwanchai Numsomboon, second in the previous Games in Vientiane, was relegated to the third place in the men’s discus.

Thailand were expected to claim gold in events due to take place late last night. Among the favourites was the men’s pole vault event, where Games record-holder and defending champ Keeta Sintawacheewa and former gold winner Sompong Soambankruay were due to take part.

Seven gold medals were up for grabs in the taekwondo competition yesterday, but the first six gold medals saw the host fighters in awesome form to win four gold. Vietnam and the Philippines took one gold each. Thailand claimed only two medals consisting of silver in the men’s poomsae team and a bronze in the men’s individual poomsae from Pich-chapha Tanakit.

Hosts Indonesia also ruled the roller sport. Four out of five gold medals at stake were all swept by home skaters. Thailand claimed one silver in the men’s 300m ITT class by Chutipon Nakarungsri.

Thai canoeists tried to retain their great form shown on the previous day when they captured three out of five gold medals on offer. However, their determined efforts did not work out well yesterday when they had to be content with only one bronze medal.

A total of three gold medals were at stake in the women’s canoeing competition yesterday as Singapore, Vietnam and Indonesia shared one gold apiece in the event.

Singaporean Lee Geraldine snatched the first gold when she thrashed all challengers in the 500m women’s singles kayak event. Vietnam’s pairing of Nguyen Thi Mai and Kieu Thi Tho took the 500m women’s doubles kayak, while the third gold in the 500m women’s four-person kayak went to Indonesia.

Sakunrat Huansat, Waratchaya Kheha, Woraporn Boonyuhon and Kanokpan Suansan handed Thailand the lone bronze medal in canoeing yesterday when the women’s quartet finished third in the 500m four-person kayak competition.

In the cycling competition, Indonesian riders took advantage of the home course to make a clean sweep of both gold medals on offer in the men’s and women’s 1.5km downhill events.

Purnomo bagged the men’s title, with team-mate Risa Susanty taking the women’s crown. Thailand’s Tanaphon Jarupeng and Vipavee Deekaballe returned with the similar bronze medal in the respective men’s and women’s events.

Thai shooters failed to make their mark on the opening day of the shooting competition as they took only two medals including one silver on a day when Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia shared the honours.

The Chinese-born Singaporean Zhang Jin bagged the first gold in the men’s 10m air rifle, with Malaysian Mohd Hadafi Bin Ja and Thai Weerawat Chaisawat taking the silver and bronze medals.

Anang Yulianto gave the host country something to cheer about when he won the gold medal in the men’s 25m standard pistol. The remaining gold was won by Malaysian Nur Suryani in the women’s 50m rifle 3 position event, with Thailand’s Sununta Majchacheep finishing a close second. The third place went to Malaysian Nur Ayuni Farhana.