Indonesian riders to start medal fight on Aug. 8

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)