Host E. Java takes lead on PON opener

By Ivy Susanti

SURABAYA (JP): Host East Java stood at top of the medal standings on Tuesday on the first day of the 15th National Games (PON) here with a total of nine golds, four silvers and a bronze.

Defending champion Jakarta trailed in second place with three golds, three silvers and five bronzes, followed by South Kalimantan in third place with two golds and a bronze.

Women's cyclist Uyun Mu'zizah could not hold back her tears after winning the first gold for East Java in the women's 25- kilometers Individual Time Trial (ITT) along Gempol toll road in Sidoarjo. Uyun outclassed the favorite and 1996 PON silver medalist Nuraeni by clocking 37 minutes and 21 seconds.

Nuraeni took silver with 39:26.20, while the bronze went to Tuty Suhesti of West Java after clocking 41:25.10.

East Java governor and PON organizing committee chairman Imam Utomo presented the gold medal to Uyun. The chairman of East Java Sports Council Soegondo immediately pledged a Rp 1 million (US$116.3) cash bonus.

"I'm very happy with the result. I just peddled my bicycle and I was confident of beating Nuraeni. But if Nurhayati (the 1996 PON gold medalist from Yogyakarta) had taken part in the event, I don't think I would have been victorious," she said.

In the weightlifting event, four national women lifters Lisa Rumbewas, Sri Indriyani, Supeni and Winarni -- all concentrating on the Olympic Games in Sydney in September -- grabbed the gold and silver medals in the 48kg and 53kg divisions.

Lisa Rumbewas, an Irianise competing for South Kalimantan, took the gold in the 48kg division with a total lift of 180kg, taking the national junior record of 100kg from Sri Indriyani from Lampung.

Rosmainar of Jambi was second after lifting a total 175kg and Farida Samat of South Sulawesi came third, lifting 162.5kg.

Sri, who only recently recovered from a knee injury, took the silver medal in the 53kg division with a total lift of 175kg although she dropped the barbel in her third trial.

Supeni of Jambi took the gold with a total lift of 185kg while Suyati of South Kalimantan was third, lifting 162.5kg.

Winarni finished first in the women's 58kg with a total lift of 190kg. Tanti Pratiwi of Central Java took the silver by lifting 185kg while Novita of Central Kalimantan was third, lifting a total of 175kg.

Sri said her injury was not hurting her anymore and she was disappointed with her result. "That's all I could do. My coach and the province were not forcing me to get a good result due my current condition," she said.

Secretary-general of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) Djoko Pramono said that the four lifters were given a chance to compete at the Games as an Olympic warm up.

He also said that Sri and Winarni took part in the 53kg and 56kg divisions in line with their weights. "They have just recovered from injury and illness. We didn't want to force them."

Selected Medal Tally: Provinces G S B East Java 9 4 1 Jakarta 3 3 5 South Kalimantan 2 - 1 Papua 2 - - West Java 2 2 6 Lampung 1 3 1 Yogyakarta 1 2 1 Jambi 1 1 -