Indonesia's rowing team collected three of the six gold medals up for grabs on Thursday at Ngalike Dam, Naypyitaw, Myanmar, taking the team to just one gold away from its target.

The first gold medal was snatched by Erni Sokoy in the women's kayaking 500-meter event. She clocked 2 minutes 6,090 seconds, outplaying Singapore's Lee Weiling Geraldine, who took the silver in 2:7,737.

Thailand's Kanokpon Svanson finished third in 2:8,894.

'I'm grateful, for this is my first time to compete in the kayaking event. It's all thanks to Jesus,' said the athlete, who hails from Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua.

It was a timely birthday present for the 26-year-old, who celebrated her birthday on Dec. 5, the day she left for Myanmar to compete in the regional sports event.

It was a step up for Erni from the 26th SEA Games that Indonesia hosted in 2011, when she grabbed a silver and a bronze in the dragon boat race.

Indonesia's second gold of the day was won by another Papuan athlete, Spensstuber Mehue, in the men's 500-meter canoeing race.

He clocked 1:59,256, surpassing host athlete Win Htike who recorded 1:59,676 and Thai Rungsawan Suansan with 2:1,886.

'This is my first gold since I became a main rower on the national team. I used to sit on the reserve bench,' said the 23-year-old Spensstuber.

He attributed his success to hard work, which included intensified training in the last 12 months prior to the Games.

Anwar Tarra/Eka Octarorianus brought home the third gold in the men's 500-meter double canoeing race in 1:49,830. They defeated silver medalist pair Ye Aung Soe/Win Htike from Myanmar and bronze medalists Phanudet Phetmika/Nares Naoprakan of Thailand who clocked 1:49,830 and 1:51,978, respectively.

Indonesia only managed a bronze medal in the women's 500-meter kayaking team race behind the Myanmarese team, which earned the host's only gold that day.

In total, Indonesia's rowing team has collected three gold and four silver medals over two days. On Friday, there will be another six gold medals up for grabs.

The Indonesian rowing team collected six of the 16 gold medals on offer in 2011.

Head coach Muhamad Suryadi is optimistic that Indonesia will win more gold medals to meet or even surpass the four-gold target.

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