Indonesian riders to start medal fight on Aug. 8

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian cyclists will have the opportunity to win the first medals for their country in the opening event of the 20th Southeast Asian Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.

Cycling training director Sofian Ruzian said on Wednesday that Tonton Susanto and Goang Sulistiyono would begin the struggle for medals in the 45-kilometer individual time trial (ITT) final on Aug. 8.

"Our chance of winning medals is fifty-fifty. Tonton will have to beat Filipino Victor Espiritu and Malaysian Sharulneeza Razali. Thailand's Wisuth Kasiyapat also will be a big challenge for Tonton if he takes part in the Games."

He said that weather conditions, such as wind and rain, could be factors in the cyclists' performance.

In the 1997 SEA Games here, Tonton won the gold in the 40km ITT here in 54:26.40, but was stripped of the medal after he tested positive for banned substances.

Indonesia is targeting four of the seven golds at stake in the biennial event. The Indonesian Cycling Association will send 17 cyclists to compete in three road race events -- the 40km ITT, 160km open road race and 50km criterium -- and four mountain bike events of the men's and women's downhill and cross-country.

The mountain bikers left for Brunei on July 23. The road racers will arrive on Aug. 1, earlier than the other contingents, in order to adjust themselves to the race track.

Governor Sutiyoso bade farewell on Wednesday to the SEA Games contingent, comprising 75 athletes and 32 coaches, who hail from Jakarta.

On the same occasion, Sutiyoso granted an extra allowance of Rp 1.5 million (US$214) to Jakarta athletes in the SEA Games contingent to motivate them to perform well.

"I'm proud that Jakarta athletes dominate the SEA Games contingent."

He promised to provide bonuses to Jakarta athletes who succeed.

"I should check my pocket before I decide on the amount of money to be given to the best athletes," he joked.

Sutiyoso, who also chairs the Indonesian Target Shooting and Hunting Association (Perbakin), expressed confidence that Indonesia could collect gold in the team shooting event.

"Our shooters lack fighting spirit because they have never competed in overseas shooting tournaments. It would cost us a lot of money to send them to overseas tournaments. But I'm very proud of their serious attitude."

Indonesia has sent three shooters, Sarmunah, Titin Indarwati and Rina Dwi Kusumaningtyas, to compete in the individual and team double trap. They left for Brunei earlier this month for practice and to adjust to local conditions ahead of the Games.

In the pre-SEA Games shooting competition on July 10 with competitors from Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and Malaysia, Titin was first in the individual double trap event, but the overall score was far below practice results in Indonesia.

Sutiyoso said the results could not be used as a gauge of the team's true capabilities.

He also regretted that host Brunei failed to feature clay and skip events in the Games because it lacked the facilities. He said that Indonesia would have garnered more golds if the events were included.

SEA Games training director Imron Z.S. said that the Indonesian contingent of 350 athletes, 162 coaches and 45 officials would leave for Brunei on Aug. 4 in two groups. The first group, mostly consisting of women athletes, will leave in the morning and the second group will depart in the afternoon. (ivy)