Cycling body seeks sponsors for equipment and training

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) is seeking sponsors to help its cyclists obtain sports equipment and finance trips to overseas events.

ISSI's deputy secretary-general Sofyan Ruziat said on Wednesday that donors were badly needed because the association was short of funds, particularly to prepare the cyclists for the 20th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in Brunei in August.

"We sent proposals to the TIKI group (a courier service company) to contribute some money to buy the cycling equipment, but there has been no reply," said Sofyan, who is also the cycling training director.

He said Rp 1.5 million (US$206) disbursed by the National Sports Council (KONI) for the cyclists was insufficient to send mountain bikers to an overseas tryout in Australia scheduled for the second week in July.

Sofyan said each athlete would need at least Rp 5 million for the tryout.

"We want the cyclists to go to Australia, but we have to count our savings first," he said.

He also said the association would need some Rp 200 million to buy bicycle equipment such as tires, chains and shock breakers.

"We have asked the SEA Games project manager for the money, but we have not yet received the nod on our request. It will be OK if we only receive half the amount."

He said that bicycle's tires for road racing cost Rp 300,000 and for training Rp 200,000. Tires for mountain bikes cost Rp 100,000 and for training Rp 50,000," he said.

"We have taken new bicycles along with equipment on credit," he said.

ISSI is grooming eight road racers and nine mountain bikers for the SEA Games, to be held for the first time in Brunei from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

Tonton Susanto, Henry Setiawan, Wawan Setiobudi, Goang Sulistyono, Herry Janto Setiawan, Hengky Setiawan, Moh. Basri and Suwandra will compete in the individual time trails (ITT) and road race events. They are training in Yogyakarta.

The mountain bikers include Rissa Suseanty, Indah and Shantia on the women's team and Fery Sonic, Beny Setiawan, Sugianto Setiawan, Sugianto Ellis Gimo, Ferinanto and Zainul Siswanto on the men's team. They are training in the mountainous areas of Cisarua and Jayagiri in Bandung.

Mountain bike coach Chandra Ariavijaya said that each cyclist would need time to adjust to the new equipment.

"In the earlier practices, we needed good equipment that was suitable. The equipment we have now is worn out," he said.

He said that a businessman, identified as Murdardo, offered to support the tryout.

Cycling bagged 13 out of 16 golds, nine silvers and four bronzes in the 19th SEA Games held here in 1997. The association has set a target of winning three of seven golds at stake in this year's biennial event.

Gold is expected in the men's ITT and the men's and women's mountain bike events. (ivy)