Central Java hopes for 5 golds from cycling

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)