Jonathan, Afrina best hope in ASEAN Gymnast C'ships

Jonathan, Afrina best hope in ASEAN Gymnast C'ships

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Indonesia's best male gymnast
Jonathan Sianturi and best female Afrina Siahaan are expected to
grab a series of gold medals in the upcoming Sixth Southeast
Asian Confederation (SEACON) Gymnast Championships at the Medan
State University multipurpose hall later this month.

The Indonesian Gymnastics Association (Persani) secretary
general Sri Hastuti Merdiko said on Monday that Jonathan and
Afrina were among 35 national gymnasts scheduled to compete in
the event. They will be escorted by coaches Indra Sibarani and
Tunggal Putera and will arrive here on July 16.

Jonathan, who recently grabbed three golds in the 15th
National Games in Surabaya late May, is hoped to overcome the
tough challenge posed by the Thai and Filipino gymnasts in the
July 23 to July 27 event. While Afrina is also expected to
contest Malaysia, whose athletes qualified for the Olympics.

The championships will offer 77 gold medals in the junior and
senior men's and women's artistic events, men's and women's
aerobics events and women's rhythmic events.

Two hundred and fifteen gymnasts will compete from Malaysia,
Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and the host
country Indonesia. Myanmar is also expected to participate.

Hastuti said Medan was picked as the host city for the event
due to its geographical proximity to participating countries. The
province of North Sumatra is also home to a number of national
gymnasts.

The organizing committee chairman, Jepta Hutabarat, said the
organizers have prepared all the facilities to serve the
participants. The event will also feature an acrobatics
exhibition by Chinese and Malaysian gymnasts.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela is
scheduled to officially open the championships and will be
accompanied by the National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar and North Sumatra Governor Rizal Nurdin.

The hall can accommodate 5,000 spectators. Tickets are
available for between Rp 500 (US 5 cents) and Rp 2.500. (39)