First sports magazine launched<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Raket, the first Indonesian sports magazine ever
\nto specialize in tennis, badminton and squash coverage, was
\nlaunched here yesterday evening with a maiden issue of 30,000
\ncopies.<\/p>\n
It is also the first sports magazine to feature an athlete
\ninterviewing another athlete. \"No other magazine has done that,\"
\nsaid special editor Barry Wood. Wood says he has 15 years of
\nworking experience in interviewing and dealing with the world's
\ntop tennis players.<\/p>\n
\"The magazine offers the interviews of not only top tennis
\nplayers, but also unknown tennis players, who may have
\ninteresting stories. Top coaches and heads of top tennis schools
\nare also the target of interviews,\" Wood said.<\/p>\n
The other features of the magazine include love stories among
\nathletes, practical tips on how to play better, analyses of
\nathletes' technical and psychological aspects, as well as tips on
\nhealth and nutrition.<\/p>\n
The publication, which will appear every two weeks, costs Rp
\n7,500 (US$3.3). Compared to the prices of other Indonesian
\nperiodicals, which average at Rp 5,000, the price of the 100-page
\ncolorful magazine is quite high.<\/p>\n
Ignatius Sunito, the sports magazine's general manager, said
\nthe recent controversial increase of paper prices is partially to
\nblame for the high price. Another reason he suggested was that
\nthe number of advertisements is still small.<\/p>\n
Moreover, \"we expect readership from the middle and upper
\nbrackets of society,\" Sunito said. Specifically, the magazine is
\naimed at young executives who are fond of tennis.<\/p>\n
Sunito declined to reveal the initial investment for setting
\nup the fledgling magazine. But he was optimistic the break-even
\npoint could be reached within two years. Wood added that an
\nEnglish edition of Raket for wider readership in Asia was his
\nnext ambition.<\/p>\n
Behind the magazine's birth are senior reporters of the Bola
\nweekly sports tabloid. Raket's major contributors also include
\nsome of the world top's sports reporters and photographers.<\/p>\n
The magazine's editor, Sumohadi Marsis, is optimistic that the
\nparticularity of his magazine will make it sell well. He argued
\nthat badminton and tennis especially are very popular among and
\nloved by Indonesians.<\/p>\n
\"Badminton is our country's favorite sport. Moreover,
\nIndonesia is a repository of the sport's world champions. As for
\ntennis, our tennis players rank among the best in Asia. And more
\nand more people are playing it as more and more tennis courts are
\nbeing built in our cities,\" Sumohadi said.<\/p>\n
He added that squash was beginning to gain popularity among
\nIndonesians and so it was reasonable to include it in the
\nmagazine. (arf)<\/p>",
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