Coming out as a favorite to win the gold medal at the Asian Beach Games, Thailand's female beach sepak takraw team had no difficulties in downing host Indonesia in the final match Tuesday.

The Thais posted a 21-11, 21-13 win in the one-sided match in Inna Grand Bali Hotel's backyard, Sanur Beach.

Indonesia acknowledged Thailand's solid performance and blamed its own poor preparations.

"Thailand is like a hard wall that is difficult to break down, whereas we banked on a newly formed team," Indonesian Sepak Takraw Association chairman Syamsul Rizal said after the match.

Indonesia should follow Thailand's lead if it is to excel in the sport, Syamsul said.

"They (Thais) continuously groom and produce best sepak takraw talents by holding monthly national championships," he said.

"Sepak takraw is everybody's sport there. Everyone plays the game in their spare time. Even their army arranges intensive training, which enables the force to form good teams."

He underlined the need for frequent competitions to raise the standard of national athletes.

"In order to develop sepak takraw in the country, I really expect the government or private companies to hold more competitions,"he said.

Indonesian team captain Nur Qadriyanti said her squad's defeat was the result of overconfidence.

"We took the game for granted," she said."Overconfidence caused us to lose focus while holding the ball. We frequently allowed the Thais to find a blank spot in our defense."

Qadriyanti said, however, she was content with the silver because nobody expected the team to reach the final.

"Our original target was to advance to the semifinals. We have done our best."

Thailand team contributed its success to hard work and good luck.

"It was a good match, and Indonesia is also a good team, but we were luckier than them," chief coach Sompong Sangkhasuram said.

If Indonesia took part in more international competitions, Sangkhasuram said, it would shape the national team into the best one possible. -- JP

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