C. Java gears up for 15th PON<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): After losing the chance to host the 2004
\nNational Games (PON), Central Java will focus on improving its
\nachievement in this year's National Games in Surabaya, held from
\nJune 19 to June 30.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Central Java
\nchapter Djoko Sudantoko said his province would make every effort
\nto improve its medal tally at the Games.<\/p>\n
Central Java finished fourth in the 1996 PON in Jakarta,
\nbringing home 32 golds, 42 silvers and 71 bronzes. Host Jakarta
\ntopped the medal tally with an incomparable number of medals: 141
\ngolds, 84 silver and 79 bronzes.<\/p>\n
\"Central Java is gearing up to haul as many gold medals as
\npossible. At the very least we aim to improve on our position
\nfrom fourth in 1996,\" he said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Capital of South Sumatra Palembang beat the Central Java
\ncapital of Semarang by winning 33 of 61 votes in the election
\nduring the council's plenary meeting on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16.
\nSemarang only earned 23 votes.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid later chose Palembang to host the
\nquadrennial event, making it the first city outside of Java to
\nstage the Games in the past 30 years.<\/p>\n
Djoko said the sports officials accepted the President's
\ndecision. \"We accept the decision although it represents a
\nfailure for us. The President's decision must be the best one.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, deputy head of the city council, M. Thoyfoer,
\nshared Djoko's view. He expressed hope that the failure to host
\nPON would not discourage local athletes from doing their best at
\nthe event.<\/p>\n
\"I hope this failure will not break the athletes' spirit to
\ngive their best in the 15th PON,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He called on sports officials to maintain their athletes'
\nfighting spirit so they could fulfill the province's target in
\nthe multisports event. (har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/c-java-gears-up-for-15th-pon-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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