Cambodia's Odekta Elvina admitted making a tactical mistake when competing with Nguyen Thi Oanh and Pham Thi Hong Le in the women's 10,000m final at the 32nd SEA Games.
On the Morodock Techo race track on the afternoon of May 12, Odekta finished third with a time of 35 minutes 31 seconds 03, receiving a bronze medal, while two Vietnamese runners shared the top positions. Nguyen Thi Oanh finished first with a time of 35 minutes 11 seconds 53, and Hong Le finished second with a time of 35 minutes 21 seconds 09.
According to Odekta, her ambition to achieve a better result was ruined by the clever tactics of her two direct competitors. "I fell into the trap of the two Vietnamese athletes, when they let me take the lead," Odekta told Indonesia's national news agency Antara after the race.
Odekta Elvina (number 416) on the women's 10,000m race at the 32nd SEA Games on the afternoon of May 12. Photo: Hieu Luong
Yesterday’s track performance showed that Odekta took the lead twice. The first time was right after the first water stop, near the end of the 10th lap of the 25 laps, but it didn’t last long because Oanh quickly reclaimed the top spot. The second time Odekta took the lead came with about eight laps left and Oanh entered the water.
The top 3 order was Odekta, Hong Le and Oanh, and remained that way until almost the end of the 23rd lap, when Odekta and Hong Le entered the water, while Oanh ran straight. Odekta only ran ahead of Hong Le for a while before dropping to third, and helplessly watched the two youngest Vietnamese runners reach the finish line.
"They probably slowed down a bit to let me take the lead. I should have run behind these two runners, to try my best to win the silver medal in the last leg," Odekta explained, referring to the second time she took the lead and held this position from lap 17 to lap 23. This was the stretch where the 31-year-old Indonesian runner became a "shield" for Nguyen Thi Oanh and Hong Le to "hide from the wind", conserve energy, and then accelerate spectacularly, breaking away to the front in the last two laps.
According to Odekta, for most of the race she was "tortured and outclassed" by the two athletes' physical strength, endurance and sound tactics. However, the athlete was still satisfied because she had completed the minimum task - winning a medal.
Odekta (left) was leading from lap 17 to lap 23, before running out of steam and falling behind, allowing Oanh (right) and Hong Le to take over and finish first in the women's 10,000m event at the 32nd SEA Games on May 12. Photo: Hieu Luong
Besides, Odekta also admitted that the two Vietnamese runners are superior. "Both of them have reached Olympic level. Of course, we are also aiming for that level. Hopefully, in the next competition, I can catch up with them," she said.
Before the 10,000m distance, Odekta Elvina won a marathon gold medal when competing in Siem Reap, surpassing Vietnamese athlete Le Thi Tuyet. "I am very grateful to be given the opportunity despite my old age," said Odekta. "I really want to participate in the upcoming ASIAD to have the motivation to strive and improve my personal achievements."
SEA Games 32 women's 10,000m race on the afternoon of May 12.
Hieu Luong (according to Antara )
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