Crismonita Dwi Putri, RI`s Track Cycling Athlete for Asian Games
20 July 2018 15:16 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Twenty-year old cyclist Crismonita Dwi Putri is set to represent Indonesia at the 2018 Asian Games in the track cycling event that will be held at the Rawamangun Velodrome, East Jakarta.
Crismon—her popular name—is a silver medalist in the women’s 500-meter time trial at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia and the cycling women’s sprint team with her partner Santia Tri Kusuma.
The Lamongan-born woman began cycling in primary school and initially started her competitive cycling career on BMX bikes before racing on track bicycles.
“I was urged to participate in practice sessions by my father, but eventually I became more interested in and was encouraged to participate in races,” said Crismon when Tempo met her at the Rawamangun Velodrome on Thursday, July 19.
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Her talent in her early BMX competitions took her to many achievements in regional races. She raced BMX bikes until junior high but was encouraged by her coach to switch to mountain bikes and road races just one year after.
Despite her tons of achievements in the two cycling categories, Crismon had not been summoned by Indonesia’s national bicycle training team (Pelatnas). She then participated in an official national athlete training session held at the Malang Velodrome, which was close to her home, in preparation for the 2017 SEA Games.
She eventually practiced together with other national cycling athletes where her potential was picked up by the national team and was recruited to participate in the track cycling.
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“I qualified the test and was recruited to race in track cycling even though I have only spent three months in the training camp. I feel that I have the potential and a bigger chance at the track,” said Crismon.
Crismon hopes to snatch the gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games after a great record in her first outing at last year’s SEA Games. She presently engages in special training and continues to adapt herself to the track at the velodrome, besides striving to better her time at the Asian level.
"Malaysia was the only tough opponent in the 2017 SEA Games. But in Asian Games there will be Hong Kong, China and Korea," she said.
AGI ADYATAMA