Weightlifters Winarni, Patmawati get Timor cars

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman handed over three Timor cars yesterday to female world record breakers.

Indonesia's Winarni and Patmawati and Thailand's Khassaraporn Suta received the cars from sponsor PT Timor Putra Nasional after breaking weightlifting world records.

Winarni won golds in the 50 kg division at the World Weightlifting Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, last December for her total lift of 185.0 kgs and her 105.0 kgs lift in the clean and jerk. The overall mark was a new world record.

She also won the bronze in the snatch event after lifting 80.0 kgs.

Winarni also won a gold in the 19th SEA Games here in October by lifting a total of 105.0 kgs.

Teammate Patmawati, who failed in the Games, won golds in the 59 kgs division at the world championships after lifting 97.5 kgs in the snatch event and 212.5 kgs in the overall, the latter being a new world best.

Khassaraporn broke the world record in the women's 59 kgs after lifting 125.0 kgs in the clean and jerk event at the SEA Games.

She also lifted 92.5 kgs in the snatch, giving her a total of 217.5 kgs. This was 2.5 kgs short of the overall world record.

"I'm very proud about the bonus because I don't think I have done anything for my country," said Patmawati, who posed with Winarni in front of her red Timor after receiving it in the minister's office yard.

Hayono said in his speech that the SEA Games was a forum for Southeast Asian athletes to break more Asian and world records.

"The biennial event is expected to stimulate athletes to break more records. Otherwise, the event would be a waste," he said.

"The Timor cars are not only for promotion but to stimulate national athletes to break more world records. Hopefully, athletes from other sports who break world records can get the same bonus."

The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association's executive director, Budiono Kartohadiprodjo, representing the late chairman Soesilo Soedarman, said: "The officials are happy for the athletes to receive the bonus. The association will use this to improve our achievements in international events."

Weightlifting is one of the 11 sports which sports chiefs believe have a chance of winning at least silvers at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.

Thai Ambassador Somphand Kokilanon, National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, PT Timor Putra Nasional managing director Wardijasa and the association's secretary-general Djoko Pramono also attended yesterday's handover ceremony. (yan)