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SEA Games: Srunita Sari contributes first karate gold medal for Indonesia
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Srunita Sari (JP/Safrin La Batu)
S
runita Sari Sukatendel delivered on Tuesday the first gold medal for Indonesia’s karate team, beating a Thai player 06-00 in the final match of the female kumite below 50 kilograms category.
In the final, Srunita was met with heavy attacks from Thai karate athlete Paweena Raksachart, however the 17-year-old Indonesian was able to use the attacks to her benefit, converting them to her scores.
“Paweena is actually a tough opponent,” Srunita told The Jakarta Post after the match.
Tuesday’s match was not the first time Srunita met Paweena in a final match.
Srunita recalled that she also met Paweena in a final match during a Karate competition in Semarang, Central Java.
“I have learned Paweena’s techniques since then,” Srunita said.
Meanwhile, the two bronze winners in the game were Vietnam’s Tran Thi Khanh Vy and Philippines’ Junna Tsukii.
Indonesia’s karate team aims to bring home at least one gold medal in the SEA Games, said coach Philip King Galedo. Indonesian fighters will play in another six matches on Thursday. Philip said he was optimistic about reaching the goal on Thursday.
