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RI misses clean sweep
Victorious: Indonesiaâs badminton menâs doubles Angga Pratama (left to right), Ryan Agung Saputra, Ricky Karanda and Berry Angriawan show off their medals at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday
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Victorious: Indonesiaâs badminton menâs doubles Angga Pratama (left to right), Ryan Agung Saputra, Ricky Karanda and Berry Angriawan show off their medals at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday. (Antara/Prasetyo Utomo) (left to right), Ryan Agung Saputra, Ricky Karanda and Berry Angriawan show off their medals at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday. (Antara/Prasetyo Utomo)
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span class="inline inline-none">Victorious: Indonesia's badminton men's doubles Angga Pratama (left to right), Ryan Agung Saputra, Ricky Karanda and Berry Angriawan show off their medals at the Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Saturday. (Antara/Prasetyo Utomo)
Bellaetrix Manuputty ended Indonesia's six-year gold drought in the women's singles, but the badminton team failed to make a clean sweep of the five gold medals on offer in the final matches at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Naypyitaw on Saturday.
'This is the most beautiful Christmas gift for me and my family. Winning gold was indeed my personal target. I prepared hard for the SEA Games,' Bellaetrix said after beating second seed Busanan Ongbumrungpan of Thailand 9-21, 21-13, 21-13 in the final match at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium.
It was an achievement against the odds for Bella, who took the scalp of the competition's top seed, also from Thailand, in the semifinals.
The win over Busanan made her the first Indonesian player to win gold in six years after Maria Kristin Yulianti last did so in 2007, and turned out to be sweet revenge for the two losses she suffered in their previous meetings.
'I have to admit I was initially cautious because of those two losses. She defeated Aprilia [Yuswandari] in a lopsided score,' she said, referring to her teammate who the Thai beat in the quarterfinals.
Bellaetrix's fears seemed to materialize early when she lost the opening game. Thanks to coach Liang Chiu Sia's instructions during the changeover, Bellaetrix fought back to take the rest of the games.
'Chiu Sia told me to relax my game. She left it to me what tactics I wanted to employ on the court. Later, I enjoyed the game,' she said.
She contributed one of the three gold medals won by Indonesia. In the other two matches, Indonesian shuttlers misfired.
Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka lost to Thailand's Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 22-20, 21-17 in the men's singles while Nitya Krishinda M/Greysia Polii bowed out to Malaysia's Vivian Kah M.H/Khe Wei Woon 17-21, 21-18, 17-21 in the women's doubles.
Indonesia's other gold medals were won in the men's and mixed doubles.
Angga Pratama/Ryan Agung Saputra defeated Ricky Karanda Suwardi/Berry Angriawan in an all-Indonesian men's doubles final 21-13, 17-21, 21-11.
Muhammad Rijal/Debby Susanto delivered their team's third with a 21-18, 21-19 win over Thailand's Maneepong Jongjit/Sapsiree Taerattanachai. 'I thank God for this medal. This will be my last match with Debby. I dedicate this medal to Indonesia,' said Rijal.
The Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) plans to separate the pair to play with respective new partners early next year.
'We're glad we could create a beautiful memory in our last tournament together,' said Debby.
The medal haul from the badminton contingent helped augment Indonesia's gold collection to 30, but the reigning champion, which emerged with the most medals at home in 2011, still struggled at third place behind Thailand and host Myanmar.
Thailand racked up 33 gold medals to over take Myanmar, which was relegated to second place with 31 gold medals.
