Central Java hopes for 5 golds from cycling

SEMARANG (JP): As the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya approach, the Central Java cycling team hopes to win five golds in the quadrennial event to be held from June 19 to June 30.

The coach of the Central Java cycling team, Sudono Sudamar, said the target would be difficult to meet because cyclists from other provinces had more experience and were better prepared.

"Armed with high motivation and a fighting spirit, the Central Java cycling team will try its best to win as many golds as it can. We hope for five golds at the minimum," Sudono said on Saturday.

He said the golds were expected to come from Nurochman, Teguh EP, Yosua and Sri Suharmi. They will compete in several events, including the 200-meter sprint, the 4,000m individual pursuit and the off-road.

Besides these five cyclists, Central Java also is training Edy Purnomo, Adi Wibowo, Mujiono, Febriyanto, Jewarsi and Rini Suyatmi for the competition. They are being coached by Sudono, M. Arifin, Bambang Ismoyo and Agus Adiyanto.

Sudono said the cyclists would be tested on the 240-kilometer route from Semarang to Purwokerto and back to Semarang.

"We want to test the cyclists' skill after two month of physical training," he said, without specifying when the cyclists would tackle this test.

Sudono said the toughest competition at PON would come from West Java, East Java and Jakarta.

He said the host city had a number of national cyclists prepared to compete, including the Setiawan brothers (Hengki and Henry) and Herry Janto Setiawan. West Java also has a number of top cyclists, including Andi Sudrajat, he added.

"But big names cannot guarantee an athlete will win. Winning can only be achieved through hard work," he said.

Separately, the manager of the Central Java indoor volleyball team, Pandu Susilo, said his team would play a number of exhibition matches in preparation for PON.

"Without matches, it would be impossible for Central Java volleyballers to show their quality at PON," he said on Saturday.

He said his team would challenge teams from East Java, West Java and Jakarta. He said volleyballers from these three provinces were among the toughest competition his team would face.

Pandu said his team hoped to win gold in the men's and women's events, but would settle for bronze.

"I want to be realistic, winning a gold is difficult here because the athletes from East Java, West Java and Jakarta are very strong. If our team fails to contribute any medals, I could understand that. But I will try to boost their motivation to win two bronzes at the least," he said.

Central Java finished fourth in the 1996 PON, bringing home 32 golds, 42 silvers and 71 bronzes. Host Jakarta topped the medal table with 141 golds, 84 silvers and 79 bronzes. (har)