Tonton might cycle at Asiad: Sports council

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council's 13th Asian Games task force is considering including Tonton Susanto in the quadrennial event in December in Bangkok.

The task force's chairman, Muhammad Hindarto, announced yesterday that cyclist Tonton had proven his skills by winning the East Asian division of the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia last week.

"He was not included on the team, but Tonton proved that his fighting spirit is great. We hope the Indonesian Cycling Association will give us a detailed analysis on Tonton's victory in the event after the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly to enable the task force to analyze his skills accurately and objectively," Hindarto said.

Tonton, who was suspended for one month after being proven guilty of using banned substances in the 19th SEA Games here last October, clocked one hour 24 minutes and 34 seconds in Sunday's final event of the Langkawi tour.

He finished first in the division with 45 hours 34 minutes and 42 seconds followed by Chinese Tang Xuez-hong with 45:35:30 and Arnel Quirimit of the Philippines with 45:38:18.

Italian cyclist Gabriele Missaglia, who took the lead just one day earlier, won the 12-stage Tour de Langkawi cycling race Sunday after clocking 45 hours, 12 minutes, 50 seconds. He received 80,000 ringgit (US$20,000) first prize from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The association banned Tonton from competing in national and international events from Dec. 22, 1997 to Jan. 21, 1998. He missed competing in the Asia Cycling Championships in Ipoh, Malaysia, from Dec. 11 to Dec. 22, 1997.

Tonton also had to return his gold medal in the men's 40 km Individual Time Trial.

Hindarto said Tonton would be prepared to compete in the men's 50km Individual Time Trial and the men's 200km Individual Road Race at the Asiad.

"Tonton is good in climbing but he must work harder in his sprint," he said, adding that Tonton must be wary of cyclists from Japan, China and Kazakhstan.

The association has been grooming eight cyclists (without Tonton) for the Asiad. Among them are brothers Herry Janto, Henry and Henky Setiawan, sisters Nurhayati and Nuraini and Riza Suseanty.

Hindarto said the council's sports science center would work together with the Indonesian Sports Medical Organization and the Indonesian Sports Scientists Association to stage periodical scientific discussions on sports science and technology.

"The first discussion will take place on March 12 and will discuss the standardization of medical test and physical quality of sportsmen in Indonesia," he said.

"The test will be applied to national sportsmen on March 20 until finish," he added. (yan)