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)