Nurhayati gives Yogyakarta first PON gold<\/p>\n
CIKAMPEK, West Java (JP): The 14th National Games (PON) medal
\nrace kicked off without any surprises yesterday when Yogyakarta
\nwomen's cyclist Nurhayati won the Games maiden gold in the
\ninitial 20-kilometer Individual Time Trial (ITT).<\/p>\n
Nurhayati, winner of two gold medals and a silver at the
\nSoutheast Asian (SEA) Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand last
\nDecember, clocked the best time of 29 minutes and 38.95 seconds.<\/p>\n
Her sister and teammate, Nuraini, came in 52.16 seconds slower
\nfor the bronze. Jakartan Selly Guntary finished third, with
\n30:42.51.<\/p>\n
The 20km ITT made its debut in the National Games after the
\nrace was introduced at the SEA Games in Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n
"I worked out with my male teammates for the PON because I
\nwant to improve my performance," said Nurhayati, the last cyclist
\nto make the ride on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road.<\/p>\n
"I also practiced with my Jakartan friends," she added. The
\nJakartans are indeed Nurhayati's best friends off track, as they
\nlent her a bike to win the coveted gold.<\/p>\n
Nurhayati struck a golden hat trick in the last two Games from
\nthe road race, 1000m ITT and 3000m Individual Pursuit. She moved
\nfrom West Sumatra to Yogyakarta for the 1993 PON.<\/p>\n
She also won the 3000m IP and the 50km ITT at the Chiang Mai
\nSoutheast Asian (SEA) Games.<\/p>\n
Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, chief of the Yogyakarta sports
\ngoverning body, said he was not surprised over Nurhayati's
\ntriumphant finish.<\/p>\n
"It's normal because Nurhayati has proven her mastery in a
\nhigher level of competition. The more important thing is that she
\nis consistent," the sultan of Yogyakarta said.<\/p>\n
The sultan said that the first gold will serve as a boost to
\nYogyakarta's quest for four golds from cycling this year. The
\nprovince had to relinquish its three golds in the last PON,
\nfollowing a doping scam which involved its four cyclists.<\/p>\n
Nurhayati's extended winning streak, however, left the
\nIndonesian Cycling Association with a dilemma.<\/p>\n
"Nobody has beaten Nurhayati in the past eight years. This
\nmeans that we have no equivalent substitute for her if she steps
\ndown," chief of the cycling body, Harry Sapto, said.<\/p>\n
Nurhayati made it clear yesterday that she would not race in
\nthe next PON. "I feel I am beginning to get bored with this job.
\nI want to take a long rest if I can," she said.<\/p>\n
Later yesterday, Mohammad Handy from East Java set friendship
\naside when he upset favorite Tonton Susanto of West Java in the
\nmen's 40km ITT.<\/p>\n
Handy clocked 52:38.42 to earn his province its first gold
\nmedal. Tonton managed only 53:00.65 for the silver. Yogyakarta's
\nMohammad Basri, one of the four cyclists banned for illegal drug
\nuse in 1994, took the bronze in 54:43.21.<\/p>\n
Tonton joined forces with Handy, Eggi Eirin Ismail and
\nMohammad Maulana to win the 100km Team Time Trial gold medal in
\nthe Chiang Mai SEA Games.<\/p>\n
"I can't believe it. It was my career best time ever," said
\n28-year-old Handy, who averaged 55 seconds during practices in
\nhis hometown of Malang. "I just expected to finish among the top
\nthree because my rivals are tough to beat."<\/p>\n
"We know each other's strengths and weaknesses very well,
\nalthough I never beat him during our national training program,"
\nHandy said about Tonton. "Today, I was lucky to get extra
\nenergy."<\/p>\n
Handy's last individual achievement was winning the 1992 Tour
\nde Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The East Javanese rider is now setting his sight on road race
\nand point race gold medals.<\/p>\n
Two golds are up for grabs in the cycling competition at the
\nRawamangun velodrome today. The PON cycling offers 14 gold
\nmedals. (yan)<\/p>",
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