Top women cyclists quit Asiad training camp

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Top woman cyclists Nurhayati and Nuraini have dealt a big blow to Indonesia's preparations for the Pusan 2002 Asian Games after announcing their withdrawal from the event's training camp.

"They have confirmed their decision not to join the training center for personal reasons. Nuraini has asked for one year leave as she wants to have a baby," said the Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) official in charge of the development of athletes, Didi Soedijanto, on Monday.

"Nurhayati did not reveal any specific reason only that she must 'take care of family matters'. I guess she wants to have a second child," he added.

Nurhayati grabbed two gold medals from the women's point race and women's 3,000-meter individual pursuit at the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in September. Meanwhile, Nuraini finished second behind her elder sister at the individual pursuit event.

Following the siblings' decision, ISSI has named only four cyclists for the first-ranked team.

The cyclists are Santia Tri Kusuma in the women's 500-meter individual time trial (ITT), Uyun Muzizah in the women's 3,000- meter individual pursuit, Sugianto Setiawan in the men's mountain bike (MTB) and Tonton Susanto in the men's road race.

"Santia and Uyun are preparing themselves in Jakarta at Rawamangun Velodrome in East Jakarta and Kemayoran in Central Jakarta under coaches Endang Subagio and Wahyudi Hidayat," said Didi.

"Coach Sugeng Tri Hartono will supervise Sugianto in Malang, East Java and I will personally train Tonton in Bandung. In January we will move our base camp to Yogyakarta and be joined by the second-ranked cyclists," he added.

The second-ranked cyclists are Wawan Setyobudi, Teguh Eko Pambudi, Iwan Kartiwan, Rochmat Nugraha, Dadang Haris Purnomo, Suwandra, Kohar, Agus Yulianto, Andri Sudrajat, Sama'i, Nurrochman and Suyitno. The women's cyclists are Risa Suseanti and Succestoria Harly.

"If Nurhayati changes her mind, she can start training in January together with other second-ranked cyclists. There is always room for her," added Didi.

"Even though Nurhayati has decided not to join the training schedule, it will not be a problem because Uyun has shown us what she is capable of. She has, among other things, exceptional ability at the end sprint and a high level of physical performance."

In a separate development, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) will nominate Willem Gommies and Stevi Binalay, both light welterweight pugilists, to replace middleweight Hendrik Simangunsong as the top-ranked athletes.

Pertina has already named welterweight Bara Gommies and light flyweight Bonyx Saweho as first-ranked athletes requested by the National Sports Council (KONI).

There are 41 athletes given top priority status by KONI due to their medal-winning chances at the Asian Games. Thanks to their status they are entitled to training privileges, including an overseas stint.

"Hendrik did not respond positively to the invitation while both Willem and Stevi have shown their potential," Cuban coach Carlos Jesus Penate Torres said.

Torres also said he planned to take all Indonesian boxers for a two-month training camp in Cuba as well as for two overseas stints in European and Central Asian countries before the regional quadrennial sporting event.