Council eases criteria for Olympics<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council will ease the
\nselection system for the Atlanta Olympics Games by allowing
\nathletes with prospects of breaking Southeast Asian Games records
\nto go to the world's biggest sporting meet.<\/p>\n
The vice-chairman of the council, Arie Sudewo, said yesterday
\nthat the SEA Games are tough enough to preselect deserving
\nathletes for the Olympics.<\/p>\n
Arie was commenting on President Soeharto's call on the
\ncouncil to field only potential medal winners in the centennial
\nOlympic Games this July.<\/p>\n
\"Potential does not mean to actually win, but also to pose a
\ntough challenge. Our athletes may lose, but they'll finish very
\nclose to the medalists,\" Arie said.<\/p>\n
Arie said that if Soeharto's advice is taken literally, only
\nbadminton players would be eligible for the Olympics. The
\nnation's shuttlers gave the country two golds in the Barcelona
\nOlympics in 1992 and will enter Atlanta as strong favorites to
\nwin again.<\/p>\n
Arie said the drawing up of criteria by the council for
\nnational athletes qualified for Atlanta is underway, but he made
\nsure that potential medal winners and SEA Games record breakers
\nwould form the national Olympic team.<\/p>\n
The council officially kicked off the centralized training
\nprogram for the Olympics on March 1 and is expected to name its
\nOlympians by June.<\/p>\n
Indonesia entered 50 athletes in 11 events in Barcelona. Only
\nBadminton brought it any medals.<\/p>\n
The council announced last month that badminton, boxing,
\ntennis and archery topped its nomination list for Atlanta.
\nAthletes from the sports of weight lifting, canoeing, beach
\nvolleyball, table tennis, track and field, cycling and fencing
\nmight also go, but their prospects won't be bright.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is also trying to qualify for wildcard entry in judo
\nand shooting.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, the Indonesian Archery Association announced
\nthat it would start its training program for the Olympics this
\nweek. The trio of Nurfitriyana, Dahliana and Hamdiah, who won a
\nbronze in the World Championships here last year, have been
\ncalled up for the Olympics, along with Purnama Pandiangan,
\nElizabeth and Dwi Purwanti.<\/p>\n
New training director Andi Suhendro said that the association
\nwould pick three of them for the Olympic Grand Prix, a test
\ntournament for the Atlanta Olympics, next month as the first try-
\nout.<\/p>\n
Andi said that the Olympic team will be decided after two
\nsimulation matches in the Jakarta Open and a tournament either in
\nGermany or Slovenia this June.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, executive chairman of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing
\nAssociation, Imron ZS, said that the five boxers who qualify for
\nthe Olympics would undergo a one-month training stint at
\nCijantung, East Jakarta, starting March 10th.<\/p>\n
Light flyweight Lapaene Masara, flyweight Hermensen Ballo,
\nfeatherweight Nemo Bahari, light middleweight Hendrik
\nSimangunsong and middleweight Pino Bahari will continue their
\nprogram in Uzbekistan and Cuba. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/council-eases-criteria-for-olympics-1447893297",
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