Jonathan hoping for Asiad bronze

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)