Indonesia likely to give Asian Games soccer a miss<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia appears poised to bail out of the
\nsoccer competition of the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan
\nthis October.<\/p>\n
Executive chairman of the national sports governing body
\n(KONI) Soeweno said yesterday that the All-Indonesia Football
\nAssociation (PSSI) had already bowed out due to the strict
\nstandards applied by KONI.<\/p>\n
\"Mr. Azwar Anas (PSSI chairman) could not convince us that our
\nnational soccer team would take a medal during the Games,\"
\nSoeweno said.<\/p>\n
KONI's official in charge of the national training camp Arnold
\nLisapaly added: \"Mr. Azwar undoubtedly knows his team well. His
\nwithdrawal should reflect PSSI's stance.\"<\/p>\n
Azwar, who is also Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare,
\nmet Soeweno and Arnold on Monday and said the decision to send
\nIndonesian booters to the Oct. 2-16 Games rested with KONI.<\/p>\n
Later on Monday PSSI Harimau, powered by the country's best
\nfootballers, succumbed to Thailand 5-3 in a penalty shootout in
\nthe Independence Day Cup final in Surabaya, East Java. The sides
\nhad been tied at 1-1 after both regulation and 30 minutes of
\nextra time.<\/p>\n
Soeweno said that winning a medal in Hiroshima was a long shot
\nat best. KONI had required that the national team win the
\ntournament held to commemorate the country's 49th Independence
\nDay in order to participate in the Asiad.<\/p>\n
\"Even if they managed to take the crown, KONI needs to re-
\nthink it's stance given the quality of the overseas teams which
\ntook part in the tournament,\" said Soeweno. He expressed grave
\ndoubts that South Korea, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore
\nfielded their best teams at the meet.<\/p>\n
Asian solidarity<\/p>\n
Indonesia's move will likely bring the number of no-shows to
\nfive. Brunei has already pulled out, while Mongolia, Yemen and
\nIndia are on the verge of quitting.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is drawn to meet the South Korean World Cup team,
\nChina and Kazakhstan in their Group E qualifying round.<\/p>\n
Secretary general of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
\nPeter Velappan and national football legend Maladi have urged
\nKONI to allow PSSI to compete in the Games, saying that the goal
\nof taking part in Asiad is maintaining Asian solidarity.<\/p>\n
\"We consider the athletes who qualify for the Games based
\nsolely on their performances, without involving non-technical
\nreasons,\" Soeweno argued.<\/p>\n
KONI plans to field a national team made of between 120 and
\n150 athletes in 16 events. KONI will announce the names of the
\nathletes on Aug. 26.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, KONI approved a proposal to include four
\nwomen's and four men's swimmers in Indonesia's Asian Games squad.
\nThe national swimming federation (PRSI) was given a week to
\nshortlist eight of the 11 swimmers who recently completed a two-
\nmonth training stint in the United States. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-likely-to-give-asian-games-soccer-a-miss-1447893297",
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