Asian Games: Indonesia secures bronze in women’s 500 m canoeing

Safrin La Batu
The Jakarta Post

Palembang, South Sumatra / Thu, August 30, 2018 / 01:41 pm

Asian Games: Indonesia secures bronze in women’s 500 m canoeing

(From L to R) Silver medallists Uzbekistan's Dilnoza Rakhmatova and Nilufar Zokirova, gold medallists China's Ma Yanan and Sun Mengya, bronze medallists Indonesia's Nur Meni and Riska Andriyani pose with their medals during the victory ceremony for the women's canoe double 500m final during the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang on August 30, 2018. (AFP/Mohd Rasfan)

Indonesian canoers settled for the bronze medal during the canoe women’s double 500-meter final on Thursday at Jakabaring Sport City in Palembang, South Sumatra.

National canoers Riska Andriyani and Nur Meni reached the finish line in 2 minutes and 7 seconds to claim third position, while the Uzbekistan canoers finished a minute earlier and claimed the silver medal. China, meanwhile, won the gold medal.

The national team missed out on four other medal opportunities on Thursday as Indonesian canoers finished their respective races without winning a medal.

“Today’s competition was tough. I am unhappy [with the result]. But it’s normal [in competition]. On Saturday we will be up for another race and hopefully we will get more medals,” Indonesian coach Krisztian Vereb told journalists after the match.

On Saturday, there will be another final race for six categories. Teams from China, Uzbekistan and Iran in particular are considered powerhouses in canoeing and other rowing events.

Vereb said after the Asian Games his team would make preparations right away for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines next year. He said he was upbeat his team would bag more medals than in the Asian Games as the Indonesian canoers are still leading in the region.

“The SEA Games will be much easier. We do not have [to face] teams from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan or China. Next year will be better. I promise more golds [to win],” Vereb said.