RI men and women secure place in semifinals

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 11/14/2010 11:10 AM

Indonesia’s men’s and women’s teams secured a spot in the semifinals of the badminton event at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, after trailing the Taiwan teams on Saturday.
Veteran player Taufik Hidayat led the men, who have a bye in the quarterfinals, to a 3-0 win over Taiwan, while women’s team also defeated Taiwan 3-0.
Taufik returned from a late warm up to defeat Yu Hsieng Hsieh 11-21,21-8, 21-12, while doubles pair Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan defeated Chieh Min Fang and Sheng Mu Lee 21-19, 21-9. Second Indonesian singles player Simon Santoso also came from behind to defeat Hsuan Yi Hsueh 15-21, 21-15, 21-16.
In the women’s event, Ardiyanti Firdasari beat Shao Chieh Cheng 14-21, 21-11, 21-11 before doubles pair Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari came from behind to beat Wen Hsing Cheng and Yu Chin Chien 21-16, 16-21, 21-12. Maria Febe Kusumastuti wrapped up proceedings by beating Hsiao Huan Chen 21-19, 21-10.
“In the morning matches, both teams seemed to have tough opponents as they struggled to win
every game, but in the evening matches they played very well,” said badminton team manager Yacob Rusdiyanto.
“I’m very glad we beat because the Taiwan women’s team, because they were the favorites in their division.”
“The men also performed well, especially Kido and Hendra, who beat the Taiwan team that won in their last two meetings.”

Excel: Indonesian women’s doubles shuttlers Liliyana Natsir (right) and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari return a shot to Indian opponents Balana and Sawant in a qualifying round at the Tianshe Gumnasium at the Asian Games in Guangzhou on Saturday. Antara/Andika Wahyu

In Sunday’s semifinals, the men will face hosts China, who defeated Hong Kong 3-0, while the women meet Thailand, who beat Japan 3-1.
“China are of course favorites in the men’s event, but our women need to be careful against Thailand, which is quickly developing some very talented young players,” Yacob said.
Earlier in the day, the Indonesian women had secured a place in the quarterfinals after defeating India 3-2 at the Tianhe Gymnasium.
India led from the start with world number three Saina Nehwal defeating Firdasari 21-16, 21-17 and Indian pair Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Machimanda defeating Indonesian aces Greysia and Meiliana 21-17, 17-21, 23-21.
Nehwal, the first Indian woman to win a Badminton Super Series and the first to win a Commonwealth gold medal in October, needed only 30 minutes to stop world number 34 Firdasari. The new Indonesian pairing of Greysia and Meiliana lost to Gutta-Aswini and Machimanda in 44 minutes.
In the next two matches, world number 24 Maria Febe easily defeated Aditi Ajay Mutatkar 21-10, 21-16, while duo Liliyana Natsir and Nitya Krishinda Maheswari also expended little effort in dispatching Aparna Balan-Prajakta Sawant 21-11, 21-11.
In the decisive fifth match, Indonesia’s last hope Linda Wenifanetri faced little pressure from the relatively unknown Arundhati Pantawane, winning 21-9, 21-10.

— JP/Matheos Viktor Messakh

Indonesia picks up two medals on first day

Matheos Viktor Messakh, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou | Sun, 11/14/2010 11:04 AM

Indonesia won two medals on the first day of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, with Ivana Ardelia Irmanto’s silver in the wushu competition and Jadi Setiadi’s bronze in weightlifting on Saturday.

Ivana won silver in the women’s nanquan/nandao all-round wushu competition in the morning while lifter Jadi Setiadi won bronze in the men’s 56-kilogram class later in the day.
In the snatch, Jadi managed to lift 120 kilograms on his first attempt, but failed to lift 123
kilograms on his second and the third try.
“In the snatch, he equalled the result of Myanmar’s Phyo Pyiae Phyo but Jadi weighs 4 grams more so he needed to lift more in the clean and jerk in order to win bronze. It was really psychological warfare between the coaches and lifters of the two countries,” Indonesian weightlifting manager Sony Kasiran told The Jakarta Post.
In the clean and jerk, Jadi twice lifted 146 kilograms in his first and second tries before lifting 151 kilograms in the last try to win bronze, while Phyo could only lift 145 kilograms in his first try and failed to lift 150 kilograms and 151 kilograms in his second and third tries.
“We were very grateful to everybody that had helped us to get this result. We are so happy because from the beginning there was no pressure on us to win any medals.
“Jadi was really lucky because he had just recovered from a knee injury in both legs and a few days before our departure, he complained of discomfort in his wrists. He could only manage 140 kilograms at a tournament in Turkey,” Sony said.
First bronze for Indonesia: Indonesian weightlifter Jadi Setiadi reacts after successfully lifting an overall 271. 48 kilograms in the men’s 56-kilogram weightlifting event at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, on Saturday. Jadi seized Indonesia’s first bronze medal with his lift. Reuters/Mick Tsikas

The gold medal went to China’s Jingbiao Wu who lifted 133 kilograms in the snatch and 152 kilograms in the clean and jerk to break the Asian Games record in the men’s 56-kilogram category with a total lift of 285 kilograms.
The silver medal went to North Korea’s Cha Kum-chol who managed to lift 128 kilograms in the snatch and 148 kilograms in the clean and jerk.
Sony said his lifters were a lot more relaxed at the event because there were no specific targets the Indonesian Sports Committee (KONI) or the Youth and Sports Ministry had given them.
“They set no expectations, even for mainstays such as Eko [Yuli Irawan] and Triyatno. The most important thing is that they do their best at the event,” Sony said.

Rio Haryanto, RI’s first F1 driver?

Matheos Messakh, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/08/2010 10:39 AM

After finishing in the top five at the end of the GP3 season, teenager Rio Haryanto will soon become the first Indonesian to try a Virgin Racing Formula One car.

During the Nov. 16 test drive at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, the 17-year-old will be one of
the youngest drivers to ever take a test drive on the FIA official Formula One racing circuit. The GP3 champion Esteban Gutierrez enjoyed the same privilege last year along with Tim Sauber when he was only 18.

“The most important thing for me in this test drive is not to be the fastest, but how to gain experience from this rare opportunity,” Rio told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

“What I need is the experience because everything will be very different, especially the force and the aerodynamic system of the car. I am happy there is no pressure for me to be the fastest. Besides, this is not the decisive moment to be or not to be in a Formula One race. It will take a while to move up to Formula One,” Rio said.

But Rio cannot hide his enthusiasm.

“For sure, the finest moment for me in 2010 was not when I won in Istanbul. It was when I got this chance,” he said.

The prestigious prize was offered by the Virgin Racing team at the beginning of the season to the driver who finished highest in the GP3 Series in a Manor Racing car.

Rio is now a member of the UK’s Manor Racing along two British teammates, James Jakes and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, all of whom have finished not only with the best results among their team members, but also in the top five overall leaders. For his results, Rio was granted the rare opportunity after finishing third in the first GP3 Europe Series race in Monza, Italy, on Sept. 12, 2010.

“The good thing with Manor is we keep linking with Virgin F1 cars. It’s not the world best F1 car, but it still a Formula One car, and I’m sure next year the Virgin F1 will be better,” Rio’s manager Piers Hunnisett said.

Rio came to the series having dominated the 2009 Formula BMW Pacific Championship with 11 wins and 14 podiums with the Meritus Racing Team.

Before departing for the GP3 Series in Europe earlier this year, Rio had set a top 10 target, but surprisingly closed the season in the big five from a pack of 30 drivers that took part in the 2010 series.

In Europe, Rio continued his winning streak this year by winning the GP Turkey on May 30, finishing fourth in Valencia, Spain, on June 27, runner up at Silverstone, England, on July 10 and third at Monza, Italy, on Sept. 12.

Rio, who was born in Solo, Central Java, on Jan. 22, 1993, amazed Virgin Racing team principal, John Booth, who is also the founder and the principal of Manor Racing.

“Rio’s achievements are truly great, I do not doubt it, but I didn’t think he could reach this level this soon,” Booth said after the latest Italian GP, as reported on Rio’s official website.

Regarding ambitions to reach the higher levels of racing, such as Formula One, manager Piers Hunnisett said Rio still has a lot time to make his dream come true.

“Everything is possible. The Abu Dhabi test is quite a big jump. I don’t want to introduce anything and [make him] lose confidence. He is only 17, so he is naturally getting stronger. He is still growing — the brain, the muscles. I don’t want to push him too hard too soon,” Hunnisett said, adding that it normally takes three to four years on every stage along the way to Formula One.

“Worst case — 10 years, although some drivers take longer than that. Narain Karthikeyan, an Indian racer, took almost 14 years to get to Formula One, and even Mark Webber took six or seven years, I think,” Hunnisett said.

Tak perlu "mujizat" untuk mengakui kebesaran Allah

Mengapa kita hanya melihat hal-hal yang extraordinary sebagai perwujudan kebesaran Allah? Mengapa kita hanya merasa Allah exist dalam kehidupan manusia kalau ada hal yang dianggap mujizat. Kita memang selalu mengharapkan mujizat untuk mengakui kebesaran Allah. Kalau ada langit terbelah, tsunami, penampakan dst, dst barulah mulut kita komat-kamit mengakui kebesaran Allah.
Mujizat itu bukan hanya hal-hal yang extarordinary tetapi hal-hal yang kecil, yang kita anggap sederhana dan given tetapi sebenarnya kalau kita sendiri tak mampu secuilpun mempunyai kuasa atasnya. Masih bisa bangun pagi dan bernapas saja itu sudah suatu mujizat yang luar biasa.
Jangalah cuma bersyukur kalau bisa "berhasil" membuat ini atau itu, tetapi bersyukurlah kalau Allah masih memberi kesempatan untuk hidup dan melakukan hal-hal yang nampaknya sederhana.

Larissa lagi!

Paraguayan fan Larissa Riquelme celebrates after Paraguay beat Japan during a South Africa 2010 World Cup soccer match as they watch the game in a big screen in the downtown square of Asuncion, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Paraguay moves on to the quarter finals.(AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

A Portugal supporter holds up a scarf before the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Fans react after Spain scored during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Portugal, as they watch on a large screen outside the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, on Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Millions of people worldwide are following the World Cup soccer tournament which is been held in South Africa, and broadcast to a diverse community of football fans. Spain won 1-0. (AP Photo/Arturo Rodriguez)

Caption 1: Spain's David Villa celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the

Caption 1: Spain's David Villa, center back, scores the opening goal past Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo, center front, during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 347px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD34x9KSMjVJOXAYeW414ZhYURfL2MoPlNBEFctA56zkuVwAx0lvrGAbvggrYipV2ZtK7YVpUn2GP9o6yuaRrSLEoZ1zr5XBNuVgg1tmNAt9pEbAQfAHCb7sps9U1PMNT8_jVb/s400/villa3.jpg" alt=""

Caption 1: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo sits on the pitch during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the Green Point stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Caption 1 : Japan's Yuichi Komano, leaves their hotel in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, June 30, 2010. After Japan was defeated by Paraguay 5-3 on penalties Tuesday, after a 0-0 draw in their round of 16 World Cup soccer match. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Caption 2: Japan head coach Takeshi Okada, right, comforts Japan's Yuichi Komano, left, following the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Paraguay advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 5-3 victory over Japan in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Caption 1: Japan's Yuichi Komano (left) Japan's Yuki Abe (center) and Japan's Makoto Hasebe (right) react following the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Paraguay advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time with a 5-3 victory over Japan in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)

Caption 1: Japan players line up for penalty shootouts during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)


Caption 2: Japan players react during penalty shootouts at the end of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Paraguay advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 5-3 victory over Japan in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Valdez tahu bagaimana rasanya

Valdez memulai karir dari kemiskinan yang luar biasa. bahkan pernah jadi gelandangan..(see story bellow) dia tahu bagaimana rasanya...lihat saja bagaimana reaksinya terhadap para pemain Jepang...perfecto humano...

Caption 1:
Paraguay's Nelson Haedo Valdez, right, consoles Japan's Yuichi Komano, center, after he missed a shootout penalty during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Paraguay advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 5-3 victory over Japan in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Caption 2: Paraguay's Nelson Haedo Valdez, foreground right, comforts Japan's Yuichi Komano, center back, following the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Tuesday, June 29, 2010. Paraguay advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time with a 5-3 victory over Japan in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)