Jonathan wins gold, three silvers

JAKARTA (JP): The nation's top gymnast Jonathan Sianturi won a gold and three silver medals in the Egypt Cup in Alexandria last week, but failed to get the morale boost he wanted prior to the 13th Asian Games in December.

The 27-year-old gymnast, Indonesia's lone hope in the upcoming Asiad, finished first in the all-round discipline and picked up the second-best laurels in the rings, floor exercise and pommel horse at the international competition that concluded on Thursday.

Only 11 gymnasts from five countries took part in the event, according to Jonathan. The organizers had invited 45 countries to participate.

"The championships were not as I expected. Many Asian gymnasts did not come, maybe because of the economic crisis. My rivals from Arabian countries were good but they won't be as tough as my opponents at the Asiad," he said on Sunday. (yan)