INDONESIAN WOMEN'S DRAGON BOAT WON IN 1ST ASIAN BEACH GAMES

INDONESIAN WOMEN'S DRAGON BOAT TEAM WON GOLD - 1ST ASIAN BEACH GAMES BALI 2008

WEST SUWUNG (10/22/08) - On the final competition, Indonesian women’s dragon boat team won gold medal in 500 meter class. The 21-member team of Sarce Aronggaer and team raced in round 4. They finished first in 2 minutes 24.55 seconds.
Silver medal went to China with time record of 2 minutes 28.13 seconds and Bronze won by Thailand (2:32,60).With that result, Indonesia has earned three gold medals and one silver medal in dragon boating. Indonesian dragon-boat team coach, Muhammad Suryadi, said that the women’s team victory in 500 meter class had been predicted before.

"Our women’s team targeted to win gold in 1.000 meter and 500 meter class. While in 250 meter class the chance is fifty-fifty," he said. According to Suryadi, Indonesian dragon boat women’s team is cored by Canoe and Kayak gold medalists in SEA Games and The National Games.
"Our women’s team is strong and experienced. So, there is no problem when they are in a team," he said. Meanwhile, former Navy Chief of Staff Ahmad Sutjipto stated that the success of Indonesian boat team made him proud. He indicated that both men's and women's dragon boat teams would be nurtured even more.

"They would be in continuous trainings for the next Asian Games 2010 in Guangzhou, China," he said. Sutjipto is optimistic that with hard trainings they would be able to win more gold medals in the next Asian Games. (http://www.bali2008.com/)