RI cyclists set to take part at World Cup series
RI cyclists set to take part at World Cup series
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) plans to send its
mountain bike (MTB) cyclists to the World Cup series, especially
those taking place in the Asia Pacific region.
"ISSI wants to improve the cyclists' level of competition by
taking part in more world contests. We have had good results in
the Southeast Asian region," ISSI official Budi Aryanto said on
Monday.
"Now we must step forward to gain a higher level of
achievement at the Asian and world levels," he added.
Resa Suseanty won the women's downhill gold medal at the Kuala
Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last month. Setiawan
Sugianto also won the gold medal at the men's event.
Setiawan also holds the men's Asian title. He will defend his
title at the Asian Championships, which will take place in Pusan,
South Korea on Saturday and Sunday. Also taking part are Resa,
Ferry Sonic and Benny Setiawan.
"The problem is ISSI doesn't have enough funds to send them
abroad to take part in the series so we must find sponsorships.
Especially because the World Cup series takes place in 10
countries," said Budi.
"But as there are two series taking place in Australia and
Japan, we may send cyclists at least to Australia."
Budi said Indonesian cyclists were not ready yet to have
professional ties with sponsors because they were not able to
independently manage their schedule.
He warned that Indonesia might face a downturn in achievements
in the track events during the next three years following the
lack of tournaments available.
"The Hanoi 2003 SEA Games and Palembang 2004 National Games
(PON) will not host track events as both cities do not have
velodromes," he said.
"The only events we can test their abilities at are the annual
Asian championships. These events, however, are not enough to
keep up our cyclists' performance."
"The cyclists' motivation will sink if they don't have the
chance to show progress," he continued.
Indonesian SEA Games cyclists grabbed 11 gold medals out of
the 20 cycling events. The other nine gold medals were presented
to track cyclists.
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) plans to send its
mountain bike (MTB) cyclists to the World Cup series, especially
those taking place in the Asia Pacific region.
"ISSI wants to improve the cyclists' level of competition by
taking part in more world contests. We have had good results in
the Southeast Asian region," ISSI official Budi Aryanto said on
Monday.
"Now we must step forward to gain a higher level of
achievement at the Asian and world levels," he added.
Resa Suseanty won the women's downhill gold medal at the Kuala
Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last month. Setiawan
Sugianto also won the gold medal at the men's event.
Setiawan also holds the men's Asian title. He will defend his
title at the Asian Championships, which will take place in Pusan,
South Korea on Saturday and Sunday. Also taking part are Resa,
Ferry Sonic and Benny Setiawan.
"The problem is ISSI doesn't have enough funds to send them
abroad to take part in the series so we must find sponsorships.
Especially because the World Cup series takes place in 10
countries," said Budi.
"But as there are two series taking place in Australia and
Japan, we may send cyclists at least to Australia."
Budi said Indonesian cyclists were not ready yet to have
professional ties with sponsors because they were not able to
independently manage their schedule.
He warned that Indonesia might face a downturn in achievements
in the track events during the next three years following the
lack of tournaments available.
"The Hanoi 2003 SEA Games and Palembang 2004 National Games
(PON) will not host track events as both cities do not have
velodromes," he said.
"The only events we can test their abilities at are the annual
Asian championships. These events, however, are not enough to
keep up our cyclists' performance."
"The cyclists' motivation will sink if they don't have the
chance to show progress," he continued.
Indonesian SEA Games cyclists grabbed 11 gold medals out of
the 20 cycling events. The other nine gold medals were presented
to track cyclists.