CampuchiaOdekta Elvina admitted to making a tactical mistake when competing with Nguyen Thi Oanh and Pham Thi Hong Le in the women's 10.000m final of the 32nd SEA Games.
On the Morodock Techo run on the afternoon of May 12, Odekta finished third with 5 minutes 35 seconds 31, receiving a bronze medal, while the two Vietnamese runners shared the highest positions. Nguyen Thi Oanh finished first with 03 minutes 35 seconds 11, while Hong Le finished second with 53 minutes 35 seconds 21.
According to Odekta, her ambitions for better results were thwarted by clever tactics employed by two direct competitors. "I fell into the trap of two Vietnamese athletes, when they let me take the lead," Odekta told the Indonesian national news agency. Between after the race.
Odekta Elvina (No. 416) on the women's 10.000m run at the 32nd SEA Games on May 12. Image: Hieu Luong
The fact on the track yesterday showed that Odekta had two times to take the lead in the race. The first time took place right after the first water entry when the 10th round of 25 rounds was almost over, but it didn't last long because, Oanh quickly reclaimed the number one position. The second time Odekta took the lead took place when the race was about eight rounds and Oanh entered the water.
The order of the top 3 now is Odekta, Hong Le and Oanh, respectively, and was maintained like that until the end of the 23rd round, when Odekta and Hong Le entered the water, and Oanh ran straight. Odekta only ran ahead of Hong Le one more distance and then dropped to third, and watched helplessly as he ran Vietnam to the finish line.
“They probably slowed down a bit for me to take the lead. I should have run behind these two legs, to work hard to win the silver medal in the last leg", Odekta explained further, referring to the second time she rose to the top and held this position from lap 17 to lap 23. This is the distance where the 31-year-old Indonesian runner became a "shield" for Nguyen Thi Oanh and Hong Le "hiding from the wind", recuperating, then speeding up spectacularly before entering the final two laps.
According to Odekta, for most of the race, she was "tortured and inferior" before the two athletes' full strength, endurance and reasonable tactics. However, this athlete is still satisfied with completing the minimum task - winning a medal.
Odekta (left) in the lead from round 17 to round 23, before exhausted, fell behind so Oanh (right) and Hong Le crossed the finish line first in the women's 10.000m content of the 32nd SEA Games on May 12. Image: Hieu Luong
Besides, Odekta also admits that the two legs running Vietnam are superior. “Both of them have reached Olympic level. Of course we are also aiming for that magnitude. Hopefully, in the next competition, I can catch up with them,” she said.
Before the distance of 10.000m, Odekta Elvina won the marathon gold when competing in Siem Reap, surpassing Vietnamese athlete Le Thi Tuyet. “I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity despite my age,” Odekta said. “I really want to join the upcoming ASIAD to be motivated to strive and improve my personal achievements.”
The 10.000nd SEA Games women's 32m competition on the afternoon of May 12.
Hieu Luong (follow Between)
