Nurhayati gives Yogyakarta first PON gold

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)