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Indonesia takes ASG crown amid little fanfare
Double happiness: Track and field twin athletes Adith Rico Pradana, gold medalist, and Adith Richi Pradana, bronze medalist (front left and second left), with tennis players Fitriani and Fitriana, also twins, pose for a photograph with coaches and officials after Indonesia was declared champion of the 11th ASEAN School Games on Tuesday
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ouble happiness: Track and field twin athletes Adith Rico Pradana, gold medalist, and Adith Richi Pradana, bronze medalist (front left and second left), with tennis players Fitriani and Fitriana, also twins, pose for a photograph with coaches and officials after Indonesia was declared champion of the 11th ASEAN School Games on Tuesday. Indonesia secured 43 golds, 34 silvers and 25 bronze medals.(JP/Suherdjoko)
Team Indonesia has been crowned the champion of the 2019 ASEAN School Games (ASG), collecting 43 gold medals, 34 silvers and 25 bronzes. However, the students’ achievements were met with less hype than other sporting tournaments in the country.
The students’ high-spirited performances were best demonstrated in the girl’s singles tennis final at the Tri Lomba Juang sports center in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday. The match between first seed Janice Tjen of Indonesia and second seed Lunda Kumhom of Thailand was a hard fought, see-sawing affair from the beginning.
Both players showed their skills at slicing the ball, leaving spectators breathless as they expertly hit the ball just centimeters above the net. Janice and Lunda took turns breaking each other’s serves in the first set with the Thai taking a 5-4 lead before serving for the set.
However, the 17-year-old Janice, who has received guidance from former national player Wynne Prakusya, rose to the moment to break Kumhom’s serve before going on to clinch three games in a row and win the first set 7-5.
Despite holding the lead, there was no time for Janice to become complacent, with Lunda delivering excellent drop shots and precise ball placement throughout the second set. However, Janice, who is currently ranked 138 on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking, remained steady, winning the second set 6-4 to take gold for Indonesia.
“It was a close match. My opponent was very consistent, so I really needed to stay calm to minimize my unforced errors. I needed to play tidily,” Janice told journalists after the match.
Lunda complemented her opponent’s performance, saying that Janice excelled at the forehand as well as slices and serves. The ASG final was the third encounter between the two with Janice now leading the head-to-head score 2-1.
Janice, who had also helped Indonesia win gold in the girls’ team category, added to her medal collection by grabbing a silver in the women’s doubles. Janice and her partner Nur Rosida Mega were defeated by twins Fitriana Sabrina and Fitriani Sabatini 6-2, 6-2.
A different scene took place in the final of the boys’ basketball, with the hosts facing off against a strong Philippines team.
The vocal support of the home crowd at Sahabat sport hall on Tuesday afternoon was not enough to lift the spirits of the host team, with the nation’s ballers unable to penetrate the Philippine’s strong defense.
The skills gap was evident, with the Philippines shooting out to an early lead, showering the hoop and sinking a series of three pointers from beyond the perimeter.
The hosts appeared lost for answers to the Philippine’s power, trying and failing to match them in a three point duel.
The Philippines eventually achieved a runaway victory, winning 100-51 to take home the gold.
Team Indonesia coach Rifky Antolyon said the quality of his team was still far below the Philippines, although he noted this had less to do with his protégés’ skills and more to do with their lack of fighting spirit, saying they felt as though they had lost the game before it began.
“They were too afraid to do anything, which affected our teamwork. Actually, the skills [of our players] aren’t too far below the Philippines, it’s more about the mentality,” he said.
Indonesia’s overall victory at the 11th ASG is the second time the country has been crowned champion after also winning at the 2015 ASG in Brunei Darussalam.
This year, Thailand and Malaysia trailed Indonesian in second and third place, collecting 33 and 18 gold medals, respectively.
Chef de mission of the Indonesian contingent Yayan Rubaeni said the result exceeded expectations, as the team had set a target to win 34 to 36 gold medals.
He said the athletes exceeded expectations in athletics, swimming and tennis.
“We believe that these athletes will be the backbone of the country’s sport in the next three to four years,” said Yayan, who is also the head of the Youth and Sports Ministry’s international sports division.
Yayan also vowed that the government would continue tracking the achievements and training of up-and-coming athletes after the ASG. The government will also grant the medal winners scholarships.
The competition ended on Wednesday, with participants then enjoying visits to attractions such as Semarang’s Lawang Sewu building and Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java.
Dumaguete city in the Philippines will host the 12th ASG next year.
