Nurhayati gives Yogyakarta first PON gold
CIKAMPEK, West Java (JP): The 14th National Games (PON) medal race kicked off without any surprises yesterday when Yogyakarta women's cyclist Nurhayati won the Games maiden gold in the initial 20-kilometer Individual Time Trial (ITT).
Nurhayati, winner of two gold medals and a silver at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand last December, clocked the best time of 29 minutes and 38.95 seconds.
Her sister and teammate, Nuraini, came in 52.16 seconds slower for the bronze. Jakartan Selly Guntary finished third, with 30:42.51.
The 20km ITT made its debut in the National Games after the race was introduced at the SEA Games in Chiang Mai.
"I worked out with my male teammates for the PON because I want to improve my performance," said Nurhayati, the last cyclist to make the ride on the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road.
"I also practiced with my Jakartan friends," she added. The Jakartans are indeed Nurhayati's best friends off track, as they lent her a bike to win the coveted gold.
Nurhayati struck a golden hat trick in the last two Games from the road race, 1000m ITT and 3000m Individual Pursuit. She moved from West Sumatra to Yogyakarta for the 1993 PON.
She also won the 3000m IP and the 50km ITT at the Chiang Mai Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, chief of the Yogyakarta sports governing body, said he was not surprised over Nurhayati's triumphant finish.
"It's normal because Nurhayati has proven her mastery in a higher level of competition. The more important thing is that she is consistent," the sultan of Yogyakarta said.
The sultan said that the first gold will serve as a boost to Yogyakarta's quest for four golds from cycling this year. The province had to relinquish its three golds in the last PON, following a doping scam which involved its four cyclists.
Nurhayati's extended winning streak, however, left the Indonesian Cycling Association with a dilemma.
"Nobody has beaten Nurhayati in the past eight years. This means that we have no equivalent substitute for her if she steps down," chief of the cycling body, Harry Sapto, said.
Nurhayati made it clear yesterday that she would not race in the next PON. "I feel I am beginning to get bored with this job. I want to take a long rest if I can," she said.
Later yesterday, Mohammad Handy from East Java set friendship aside when he upset favorite Tonton Susanto of West Java in the men's 40km ITT.
Handy clocked 52:38.42 to earn his province its first gold medal. Tonton managed only 53:00.65 for the silver. Yogyakarta's Mohammad Basri, one of the four cyclists banned for illegal drug use in 1994, took the bronze in 54:43.21.
Tonton joined forces with Handy, Eggi Eirin Ismail and Mohammad Maulana to win the 100km Team Time Trial gold medal in the Chiang Mai SEA Games.
"I can't believe it. It was my career best time ever," said 28-year-old Handy, who averaged 55 seconds during practices in his hometown of Malang. "I just expected to finish among the top three because my rivals are tough to beat."
"We know each other's strengths and weaknesses very well, although I never beat him during our national training program," Handy said about Tonton. "Today, I was lucky to get extra energy."
Handy's last individual achievement was winning the 1992 Tour de Malaysia.
The East Javanese rider is now setting his sight on road race and point race gold medals.
Two golds are up for grabs in the cycling competition at the Rawamangun velodrome today. The PON cycling offers 14 gold medals. (yan)