Indonesia sweeps four more golds in cycling

By Innocentius Christianto

JAKARTA (JP): Two more golds yesterday took Indonesian cyclist Nurhayati past the halfway point in her goal of five for the Games.

First-place finishes in the 3km Individual Pursuit and sprint added to her gold from Sunday's 20km Individual Time Trial.

"These are also for my country," she said.

The hosts won four golds yesterday.

Masleza Nordin of Malaysia (4:09.45) and Indonesia's Selly Guntari (4:15.69) were behind her in the individual pursuit.

Malaysia's Hamilah Mohd. Janis and Indonesia's Secelia Successtoria Harly were second and third in the sprint.

Indonesian Suwandra won a gold in the men's 4km Individual Pursuit in 4:54.15. Although outside his own record of 4:53.13, his time slashed the Games record of 4:57.28 set by Kumaresan Murugaya of Malaysia in 1987.

Compatriot Teguh Eko Pambudi won silver (5:04.52) and Thailand's Thongchai Wangardjaigram the bronze (4:55.57).

The gold quartet was rounded out in Team Pursuit by cyclists Hengky Setiawan, Henry Setiawan, Herry Janto Setiawan and Dedy Effendi.

Malaysia and the Philippines won the silver and bronze medals.

Indonesia almost made it five out of five, but Nurrochman had to settle for silver in the final of the men's sprint.

A referee disqualified Nurrochman on the first lap for obstructing the line of Malaysia's Rosman Alwi, who was declared the winner. Bronze went to Andry Sudrajat of Indonesia.

Nurrochman said he understood why he had been disqualified, but added he had seen other cyclists commit the same infractions in overseas competitions without incurring penalties.

The Indonesian camp did not pursue a follow-up objection after the panel of judges upheld the referee's decision.

"By not making a second protest, Indonesia acknowledged that it accepted the decision," the president of the Asian Cycling Confederation, Dato' Seri Darshan Singh Gill, told The Jakarta Post.

Indonesian cycling training director Subronto Laras said there would have been no point to make a second appeal.

"It's true that there's a rule on the straight line, but anybody may tremble when speeding. We decided not to prolong the case in order to keep the image of Indonesia as a good host."

Chairman of the Indonesian Cycling Association, Harry Sapto, said he believed Nurrochman's mistake was unintentional.