Indonesian runner: 'I fell into Oanh and Le's trap'

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 of 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, while Vietnamese runners shared the top two positions. Oanh finished first with a time of 35 minutes 11 seconds 53, while Le finished second with a time of 35 minutes 21 seconds 09.

According to Odekta, knowing Oanh was at a superior level, she set her sights on winning a silver medal. But her plan was foiled by the tactics her two direct competitors used. "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 .

Odekta Elvina (No. 416) led for most of the time in the women's 10,000m race at the 32nd SEA Games. Photo: Hieu Luong — 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*

On the track yesterday, 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 Oanh took the lead immediately after. The second time Odekta took the lead came with about eight laps left in the race and Oanh was in the water.

The top 3 were Odekta, Le and Oanh, respectively, and remained that way until almost the end of lap 23. At this point, Odekta and Le entered the water, while Oanh ran straight. Odekta only ran ahead of Le for a short distance before dropping to third, and helplessly watched the Vietnamese runners sprint to 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 distance 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 to the front in the last two laps.

According to Odekta, for most of the race, she was "tortured and outclassed" by the physical strength, endurance and reasonable tactics of the two Vietnamese athletes. However, she was still satisfied because she had completed the minimum task of 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 — 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*

Odekta also acknowledged the superiority of the two Vietnamese runners. "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 for the opportunity even though I am not young anymore," Odekta said. "I really want to participate in the upcoming ASIAD to have the motivation to strive and improve my personal achievements."