Indonesia hopes for 2 gold medals in Olympic Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is hoping to win two gold medals in
\nthe Sydney Olympic Games next month, improving its achievement of
\nfour years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, when national shuttlers Ricky
\nSubagja and Rexy Mainaky brought home the country's sole gold.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council (KONI) chairman, Wismoyo
\nArismunandar, said on Tuesday after the Indonesian contingent
\ninstallment ceremony that he was pinning all his hopes on
\nnational shuttlers, although Indonesia's chances in other sports
\nwere still wide open.<\/p>\n
Indonesia -- which is sending 48 athletes, 23 coaches and 19
\nofficials to the quadrennial event from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1 -- is
\nalso hoping to earn medals from women's weightlifting and
\nwindsurfing.<\/p>\n
National badminton ace Hendrawan and teenage star Taufik
\nHidayat are strong candidates to win the men's singles title at
\nthe Olympics. However, they will face tough competition from
\nPeter Gade Christensen and defending champion Poul-Erik Hoyer-
\nLarsen of Denmark, Xia Xuanze of China and Wong Choon Hann of
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
\"Winning both the Indonesia and Malaysia Open gave me the
\nconfidence to believe that I have a great chance to win the
\nOlympics gold. But it will be the toughest competition as
\neverybody wants the crown. I just have to prepare myself better,\"
\nsaid Taufik, whose ranking will jump to number one from three
\nafter winning the Malaysia Open on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Hendrawan declined to speak about his chances, but instead
\nnodded briefly and said: \"Just watch my performance at the
\nOlympics.\"<\/p>\n
Compatriot Marlev Mainaky is expected to be able to smoothen
\nhis teammates paths to the final. Indonesia's Alan Budikusuma won
\nthe men's singles gold in 1992 when badminton was featured for
\nthe first time.<\/p>\n
In the men's doubles, which is one of Indonesia's strengths,
\nworld number one Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan are optimistic
\nabout their chances of taking the gold.<\/p>\n
\"We must win the gold. If we only bring home the silver, it
\nwould mean we failed,\" said Tony.<\/p>\n
Indonesian doubles showed their might in tournaments prior to
\nthe Olympics with Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian managing to win the
\nMalaysia Open.<\/p>\n
\"Our victory at the Malaysia Open will increase our motivation
\nto win the gold medal. We are not afraid of any pairs in the
\nworld,\" said Eng Hian.<\/p>\n
Both doubles will face South Koreans Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-
\nkwon and also Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung as tough contenders.
\nChinese Zhang Wei and Zhang Jun, Danish Jens Eriksen and Jesper
\nLarsen, Malaysians Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah and seniors
\nRicky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky will be dark horses at the event.<\/p>\n
Top 16<\/p>\n
Swimmers Richard Sam Bera and Albert Sutanto aim to finish
\namong the top 16 in their respective events.<\/p>\n
Richard, who will compete in both 50-meter and 100-meter
\nfreestyle, said: \"My personal target is to reach the semifinals
\nat the Olympics. I, at the very least, have to be the fastest
\namong the Asian swimmers in the event.\"<\/p>\n
Richard, competing in his third Olympics, has never reached
\nthe semifinals before. In the 1988 Olympics he finished only in
\n32nd position while in 1996 he finished 25th.<\/p>\n
Albert, who will swim in both 100m and 200m butterfly stroke
\nevents, said compared to Richard, he had a better chance of being
\namong the top 16.<\/p>\n
\"Richard has to compete with big names like Alexander Popov of
\nRussia and Ian Thorpe of Australia. I think I have a much better
\nchance in my event.\"<\/p>\n
Both Richard and Albert said reaching the top 16 was the most
\nrealistic target in the event.<\/p>\n
\"No Indonesian swimmers have ever managed to reach the semis.
\nWe want to draft a new history,\" Albert said.<\/p>\n
Indonesian swimmers -- Richard, Albert, Felix Sutanto, Akbar
\nNasution, Stephen Chandra and women's swimmer Elsa Manora
\nNasution -- have been training for nearly eight months.<\/p>\n
Albert, Felix and Stephen opted to train here while Richard,
\nwho has trained in California, returned home earlier as his
\nmother passed away early this month.<\/p>\n
Only Elsa and Akbar are training in Brisbane. (ivy\/yan)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-hopes-for-2-gold-medals-in-olympic-games-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }