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E. Java in soccer final, sees medal lead cut
Musthofid , The Jakarta Post , Samarinda | Tue, 07/15/2008 10:37 AM | Sports
East Java's soccer team may have advanced to the finals at the National Games on Monday, but the province saw its lead at the top of the medal table narrowed by host East Kalimantan.
At Palaran Stadium in Samarinda, East Java beat the hosts to make the finals of the soccer competition, where they will face Papua. This is a repeat of the final from four years ago, when the two sides were declared joint champions after the game had to be called because of poor visibility, after organizers failed to provide enough floodlights.
In the semifinals against East Kalimantan, Rendy Irawan put East Java in front with a goal in first half injury time. East Java sealed the deal when Joko Sidik scored an own goal.
TOUGH TACKLE: Jakarta’s Fandy Ahmad (bottom) lies on the pitch after being tackled by Papua’s Edison Ames (15) and Fendri Ronaldo Mofu (22), during their soccer semifinal at Palaran Stadium, Samarinda, on Monday. Papua won 4-1. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)
Earlier in the day, Papua crushed Jakarta 4-1. Jakarta took the lead through Hendi Ariko, but Papua responded with four goals from Alan A Aronggear, Edison Ames, Lukas W Wandomen and Titus Bonay.
It was a missed chance for Jakarta to increase its medal haul on a day when the defending champion made a strong move on its rivals in the medal standings.
Jakarta added gold medals in aeromodeling, softball, synchronized swimming, shooting, karate and boxing on Monday.
The men's and women's softball teams from Jakarta scored a golden double at the expense of West Java in the finals at the Palaran softball field. The men eased to an 8-1 victory, while the women eked out a 7-6 win.
Jakarta also won two gold medals at the shooting range, with Inca Ferry playing a pivotal role.
The gold rush pulled Jakarta away from the charging West Java but was not enough to catch host East Kalimantan, which is staging its own charge on table topping East Java.
As of 10 p.m. local time, East Kalimantan was three gold medals behind East Java, which has collected 97 golds. East Kalimantan has 94 gold medals followed by Jakarta with 83 and West Java with 77.
East Kalimantan's chase was helped Monday with victories in archery, kempo, taekwondo, golf and chess.
The hosts bagged two golds each in archery and kempo.
Rina Mandasari won the women's 30 meters and Bustanil Arifin the men's 50 meters at the archery range in Tenggarong, while the Samarinda kempo court proved a gold mine for home kempo fighters Kamilus De Lero and Isna Curyani.
The hosts shared in the jubilation at the chess competition in Tarakan by taking one of two gold medals on offer. They took gold in the men's team event in standard chess, while West Java won in the women's team event.
Tuesday's program will see several sports -- synchronized swimming, billiards, wrestling, karate, tennis and indoor volleyball -- wind up their competition, while the bodybuilding event will be held in Balikpapan.
What's On
- Ken Pattern Art Exhibition
12/23/2008 - 01/21/2009, Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta - Theater Republik Petruk by Teater Koma (7:30 p.m.)
01/09/2009 - 01/25/2009, Graha Bhakti Budaya Taman Ismail Marzuki (GBB-TIM), Jl. Cikini Raya no. 73, Central Jakarta