Indonesian cyclists eye six SEA Games golds

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Cycling Association yesterday issued an early pledge to dominate the sport during the 19th SEA Games here next year by setting its sights on half of the 16 gold medals at stake.

Didi Sudiyanto, the association's training director, said yesterday that 50 riders began training at a centralized camp last month for the biennial event.

"I have noticed that the spirited cyclists show no trace of fatigue despite their strenuous workouts," Didi said.

Indonesian cyclists pedaled their way to five golds, four silvers and three bronzes in the last SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand last December.

The upcoming SEA Games cycling competition will feature more events than the Chiang Mai meet, including mountain biking, which will make its debut in the sporting festival.

Didi said that the coaching jobs have been given to locals. "We have hired an Australian, Seanne Bannan, to help our cyclists improve their performances, but he is only a consultant," Didi said. Bannan is also a coach of the Australian national team.

A number of tryouts at home have been planned for the national riders, including a road race in Garut, West Java, at the end of this month and the national steep track competition at Tangkuban Perahu, West Java, on Dec. 8.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Judo Association named 10 judokas yesterday for the King's Cup championships in Bangkok, Thailand, slated for Dec. 5 to Dec. 9.

National team manager, Armyn Hadi Rahman, said that during the tournament Indonesian judokas expect to evaluate the progress their Thai opponents have made prior to the SEA Games.

Thailand will reportedly field its team preparing for both the SEA Games and the 1998 Asian Games. (amd)