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)