Jonathan hoping for Asiad bronze

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's top gymnast Jonathan Mangiring Sianturi has something to prove in his Asian Games debut in Bangkok in December, but is determined not to get carried away.

Jonathan, the country's lone hope in the 13th Asiad gymnastics competition, said on Wednesday he had set a target of just taking a bronze medal in his favorite ring discipline.

"My major ambition in the upcoming Asian Games is to win a bronze. I will be meeting the world's best gymnasts from China and Japan, but I don't want to lose face," he told National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.

It will be the first time in Asian Games gymnastics history that an Indonesian has participated.

Jonathan was given the go-ahead to compete in Bangkok after winning two golds, two silvers and a bronze in the pre- Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in late July. He romped home with five golds in the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here last year.

So confident is he that he shrugs off injury fears that may stand between him and an Asiad medal.

"I still feel the pain but I can deal with it. It won't affect my performance," said Jonathan of the shoulder injury he picked up last year.

Jonathan, who turns 27 on Nov. 21, will have his final trial before the Asiad in the Egypt Cup in Alexandria from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8.

"I don't expect to win a medal at the tournament because I will hit peak form at the Asian Games," he said.

Gymnasts from 45 countries, including Asian Games-bound athletes from China, Japan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, will compete in the international competition.

Jonathan will compete in the individual all round and apparatus events.

Sudjihadi, who has coached Jonathan since he was seven , said Jonathan would undergo a series of simulation competitions every two weeks after returning from Egypt.

"We want him to maintain his competitive mood until the Asiad," the coach said. (yan)