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RI wins first gold medal in Equestrian

Posted : 18 Nov 2011 12:13:20

Indonesia's equestrian team won its first gold medal in the dressage event at the 26^th SEA Games in Depok, West Java, on Thursday.

"This is the first Games gold medal in an equestrian event ever for the country," Indonesia Equestrian Federation (EFI) president Irvan Gading said.

He said the achievement was not easy to make as it took a lot of hard work from all parties involved.

The Indonesian team was strengthened by Ferry Wahyu Hadiyanto riding Bonita, Djolfi Momongan (Wyatt Earp), Alvaro Menayang (Desperado 172) and Larasati Gading (Wallenstein 145).

The team competed against teams from Thailand consisting of Praditha Thitathan (Pelegrinus), Pananya Tradthong (Amonassro), Nitipat Ngao-osa (Michaelangelo), Suwat Boonie (Delgado) and Pakinee Pantapa (Tayutin) and from Myanmar.

The Myanmarese team consisted of Ei Thet Mon (Wonderland), Than Hlaing (Rualdo) and Aung Thu Tun (Groovy).

Indonesia beat Thailand and Myanmar with 205,947 points in the dressage. Thailand followed in second with 195,758 points and Myanmar scored 164,621 points.

Irvan said there were still other events to follow and so "we must work harder to win more gold medals."

Ferry said the achievement was the results of hard work from all. "Our movements were smooth and we minimized mistakes," he said.

Larasati, who scored the most points, said support from fans and family was a factor in the win.

"We hope we will get more medals," she said.

Indonesia has set a target of winning two of the six gold medals in the competition and has a contingent of 13 athletes.

Indonesia has five athletes in the eventing competition: Albert Pelealu on Edo Budi Luhur, Asep Lesmana (Kelecyn Chessa Peak), Pingkan Motira (Start Wicky), Anto Budiarto (Red Start) and Ardi Hapsoro Hamidjojo (Autumn Spirit 2).

The dressage team consists of Larasati, Alvaro, Djofri and Ferry, while the show jumping team consists of Putri Hamidjojo riding La Belle 140, Andry Prasetyono (Lundstar), Denis Christian Sanjaya (Pazia Greta), Raymen Kaunang (El Sueno Demontre) and Ardi.