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Sri Wahyuni wins first medal

It was a special day for weightlifter Sri Wahyuni Agustiani as she took silver in the women’s 48 kilograms, the first medal for Indonesia in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, on Saturday

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Mon, August 8, 2016

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Sri Wahyuni wins first medal

I

t was a special day for weightlifter Sri Wahyuni Agustiani as she took silver in the women’s 48 kilograms, the first medal for Indonesia in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, on Saturday.

Sri, who lifted a total of 192 kg to earn the honor, certainly did magnificently to make her country proud, but, personally, she also felt elated given that the good result came just ahead of her 22nd birthday.

“I am so happy to snatch the silver just before my birthday,” said Sri, who was born on Aug. 13, 1994 in Bandung, West Java, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Other than that, Sri said she also dedicated the achievement to two important people in her career: Joko Pramono, who is known as the godfather of Indonesian weightlifting, and coach Dirja Wiharja.

“Pak Dirja will also celebrate his birthday this month. As for Pak Joko, he had just celebrated his anniversary,” said Sri, adding that Joko had played a major part in honing her skills since she was young.

“Nailing the medal is my gift to those gentlemen,” said the newly minted Olympian.

The Rio Games is the first Olympics for Sri. Her potential, however, had shown when she won silver in the Incheon Asian Games in 2014 and gold in the Naypyidaw Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2013.

Team manager Alamsyah said he had predicted Sri’s good result in Rio.

“I knew that she would win a medal. Throughout the training camp, Sri showed gradual progress,” he said, adding that her progress got even better during a training session in South Africa about a month before the Olympics.

In Saturday’s showdown, Sri appeared calm and composed before hundreds of spectators. Her only stumble came when she could not lift 115 kg, which meant the gold went to Tanasan Sopita of Thailand.

Youth and Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi congratulated the silver medalist, saying that Sri had earned her Rp 2 billion (US$151,543) bonus that she will receive as soon as she returns home.

“[Sri’s achievement] has boosted optimism in Team Indonesia,” he said.

On Twitter, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo also noted Sri’s achievement.

“Lifter Sri Wahyuni won a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Indonesia is proud — Jkw,” tweeted Jokowi on Sunday morning.

In archery, the Indonesian men’s team lost a medal hope after losing to the US in the quarterfinals round.

Indonesia bowed out 6-2 to the US.

Sitting at 10th spot in the qualifying, Riau Ega Agata Salsabila, Muhammad Hanif Wijaya and Hendra Purnama put in a promising performance, especially after they beat Taiwan 6-2.

Unfortunately, Indonesia faced the US powerhouse in the quarterfinals, which led to an early departure for the trio.

“Our men’s team was extraordinary [in Rio]. We’ve never had a men’s team in the Olympics. What the trio achieved here is something else, because, at least, they reached the quarters.

“However, we surely have to admit the US’ domination,” he added.

Ega, Hanif and Hendra still have chances in their individual events, which will begin on Monday. Indonesia also has Ika Yuliana Rochmawati to keep up the campaign in women’s archery.

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