'Green' team aims for medals on the links<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
After being left off the roster for the 22nd Southeast Asian
\nGames (SEAG) in Vietnam in 2003, golf makes its return in the
\nPhilippines this year with Indonesia fielding a team of
\nnewcomers.<\/p>\n
None of the squad from the 2001 SEAG in Malaysia, including
\nthe history-making women who took gold for the first time in the
\nteam event and bronze (Retno Purwandari) in the individual
\ncompetition, will take to the links at the Riviera Golf Club in
\nSilang, Cavite, south of Manila.<\/p>\n
Amateur training head of the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI)
\nRobby Robot said former top amateur men had turned professional
\nand the women golfers were involved in other activities or had
\nretired after marrying.<\/p>\n
Among those missing from the squad are 2004 National Games
\nwomen's individual champion Ani Iman, who is now a coach in
\nJakarta, and Retno. The latter, who is 30, said age was a factor
\nin letting younger players have their chance to shine.<\/p>\n
With Thai golfers still expected to be the ones to beat in
\nNovember, Robby said on Tuesday the golfers were set a broad
\ntarget.<\/p>\n
"The National Sports Council demands the golfers bring any
\nkind of medal home," he said.<\/p>\n
Two qualifying tournaments earlier this year selected golfers
\nfor national training. However, Kemal Pasha of Jakarta, Rizal
\nArya of East Java and Ines Putri Tjiptadi of Bali subsequently
\nwithdrew due to work or college commitments.<\/p>\n
Robby said their withdrawal did not have a significant impact
\non the team's hopes because other golfers, despite being lower
\nranked, could take their place.<\/p>\n
"The players were selected from qualifying tournaments and
\nthey were not just picked perfunctorily before they came to the
\ntraining center," Robby said.<\/p>\n
The golfers' daily regimen includes physical training, match
\nplay and driving range practice in Surabaya to prepare for the
\nSEAG.<\/p>\n
They are also getting competitive match play experience in
\nnational and overseas events, including the Panwest Malaysia
\nAmateur Open in May and the Nomura Cup in Tokyo later this month.<\/p>\n
The women competed in the West Java Ladies Indonesia Open that
\nended on Thursday, and are scheduled for the Ladies Indonesia
\nOpen early this month and the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open in
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
The national team is due to relocate to Jakarta on Sunday
\nalthough some players initially wished to stay in the East Java
\ncapitl.<\/p>\n
All of the men's team hail from East Java and PGI vice
\nsecretary-general Djaya Sudarya said he received a letter on Aug.
\n30 from them stating they preferred to continue training in the
\nEast Java capital.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Djaya said the matter had been resolved. "All
\nthe players are ready to come to Jakarta and will train at Matoa
\ngolf course in South Jakarta." (004)<\/p>\n
-----------------------------------------
\nNational team<\/p>\n
Men
\nAndik Mauluddin
\nSuprapto
\nSuyanto
\nSardi<\/p>\n
Women
\nLidya Ivana Jaya
\nRisti Yuanda Putri
\nJuriah
\nIki Hasan<\/p>\n
He said that the association put its particular hope in those
\nplayers who won gold medals from the National Games in Palembang
\nlast September.<\/p>\n
With preparations of two qualifying tournaments for all
\ncandidates, some try out and try in competitions and achievements
\nobtained from the National Games in Palembang last September, the
\nsquad expects to receive a green light signal from the National
\nSports Council representing Indonesia among other Southeast Asia
\ncountries<\/p>\n
the athlete development head of the Indonesia Golf Association,
\nRobby Robot, is optimistic with the squad.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/green-team-aims-for-medals-on-the-links-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}