Gymnast Jonathan cautious on SEA Games medal prospects
Gymnast Jonathan cautious on SEA Games medal prospects
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian gymnastics team to the SEA Games
will be banking on Jonathan Sianturi for medals, but the veteran
national gymnast is cautious on the prospect.
"I don't dare say how many medals I can win because I don't
know how far my opponents have improved," Jonathan told
Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar
and the latter's entourage at the Bung Karno Sports Complex
training ground on Tuesday.
"I can't make any promises. But I can assure you that I will
be fighting it out in all the events I am taking part in," the
30-year-old Jakarta native said.
"I am about 90 percent prepared and hopefully will reach my
peak at the competition."
Jonathan, who contributed five golds to the national team at
the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta said, "Even before the training
sessions started, I was determined to achieve more than just
medals in the SEA Games," he said.
Gymnastics, one of the top Olympic events, made a no-show at
the 1999 SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam after the host failed to
provide both the venue and facilities for the sport.
The Indonesian Gymnastics Association (Persani), which is
vying for five gold medals, will dispatch 15 athletes and seven
coaches to Kuala Lumpur.
Jonathan will be going to the SEA Games with a boosted morale
following his convincing performance at an international
tournament in Turkey this month where he brought home two
bronzes.
He will take part in all the gymnastic events in the SEA
Games, although he has a better chance in the high bar, parallel
bars, vault, pommel horse, rings and all-around events.
Apart from Jonathan, Persani is looking to Yulianti for the
medal hunt. Yulianti said she would fight for two golds.
Yulianti, who specializes in the synchronized event, took part
in a three-month outing camp in Russia, along with Afrina Siahaan
and Sukma Anggraini, who will participate in the artistic event.
The gymnastics association is also training Oh Ze Ching in
Bulgaria. She has yet to return home. (01)