Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Five runners from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) managed to contribute five gold medals to the Indonesian team at the Asian athletic championship, Vietnam Open 2011, which opened in Hanoi on Wednesday (Aug 3), an Indonesian official said.

"The five athletes from NTB who won the golds are Nurul Imaniar and Rostina in the women`s 100-meter relay event and Maryati in the women`s 400-meter relay event. Maryati also won bronze in the women`s 400-meter hurdle event," general chairman of the Provincial Executive Board of the Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI), H. Arsyad Gani, said here Friday.

He said male runners from NTB who gained gold medals are Arif Rachman who played in the men`s 100-meter event and Abdul Razak in the men`s 400-meter hurdle event.

Arsyad said he was proud of the runners from the province, who were expected to be able to improve their performance at other prestigious athletic events.

Nurul Imaniar, Rostina, Mariyati, Arif Rachman and Abdul Razak are NTB`s reliable athletes who are being groomed by the provincial chapter of the Indonesian National Sports Commitee (KONI) for the 2012 National Sports Week in Riau province.

"The five runners from NTB joined other athletes in the Indonesian team from different provinces in the country to the Vietnam Open 2011. On the occasion, Indonesia won seven golds, four silvers and three bronzes," he said.

General Chairman of KONI`s provincial chapter, Kasdiono, also highly appreciated the NTB runners, and was resolved to groom them maximally.

"Vietnam Open is a warming-up means for the Indonesian team to Sea Games 2011 (in Indonesia). So, we will also play a role in grooming the athletes optimally," he said.
(Uu.KR-LWA/HAJM/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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