Top women cyclists quit Asiad training camp
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.