Women lifters chalk up Asian records
Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru | Sports | Mon, September 17 2012, 8:47 AM
Paper Edition | Page: 20
Herculean task: Sri Hartati of Lampung attempts to lift her weights in the bench press class of the women’s 57-kilogram powerlifting final at the National Games (PON) 2012 In Pekanbaru on Sunday. Sri won gold with a total lift of 553 kilograms, which is a new Asian record. (JP/J. Adiguna)
Sri Hartati and Noviana Sari, both from Lampung, put in remarkable performances in the defeat of their opponents in the powerlifting competition at the National Games (PON) 2012 in Pekanbaru on Sunday.
At the Ratu Mayang Garden Hotel, they are not only shattered their own personal bests and national records but also set Asian records en route to their winning golds.
Sri, who competed in the women’s 57-kilogram division, managed a lift of 216 kilograms in the squat, which was 1 kilogram heavier that the Asian record she set during the Asian Championship in Kobe in 2011. The bench press Asian record of 140.5 kilograms was also improved to 141 kilograms.
She also surpassed the national record of 195 kilograms. But her record of 196 kilograms stood only a few minutes when Margareth of East Kalimantan managed to make it 197.5 kilograms.
Sri was entitled to the gold medal with a total lift of 553 kilograms. The silver went to Margareth with 497.5 kilograms and the bronze belonged to Julaeha of West Java with 470 kilograms.
Sri’s success was followed by teammate Noviana in the women’s 63-kilogram division. Her squat of 227.5 kilograms beat the previous national record of 220 kilograms and Asian record of 226 kilograms.
Her bench press of 130 kilograms and dead lift of 221 kilograms also surpassed the Asian records by 1 kilogram.
Her total of 578.55 kilograms earned her gold followed by Nanik Suprayati of East Kalimantan (502.5 kilograms) and Mardiana Eka of Lampung (500 kilograms).
The hosts failed to exploit home advantage with Mulia Anggraini and Murni Natalia lifting the lowest weight in their respective divisions.
Both Sri and Noviana also won gold in the previous two Games.
“PON is held once every four years. It’s too good a moment to miss. That’s why we always try our best,” Sri told The Jakarta Post.
The second day of powerlifting competition saw Lampung collect three gold medals overall, out of 15 on offer. West Kalimantan took two and East Kalimantan one.
