Indonesia to take four months to prepare for Olympic Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian sporting executives decided yesterday
\nnot to intensify the country's preparations for the Atlanta
\nOlympic Games until early March, thereby raising many eyebrows
\nabout its desire to better its 1992 performance.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council announced the decision after a
\nclosed-door meeting with its training director Mochammad
\nHindarto. Chairman of the council Wismoyo Arismunandar presided
\nover the meeting.<\/p>\n
\"The centralized training program for selected athletes will
\nlast only four months, under the presumption that they have
\nundergone their regular training long before they gather here,\"
\nthe council's spokesman Ishadi SK said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia carved out a piece of sporting history in Barcelona
\nin 1992 by taking home two gold medals from badminton stars Susi
\nSusanti and Alan Budikusuma. The laurels ended its 34 year wait
\nto join the gold medal winning countries.<\/p>\n
Eight months of preparations proved insufficient for Indonesia
\nfor the Southeast Asian Games when it suffered a humiliating
\ndefeat by Thailand in Chiang Mai last December.<\/p>\n
The council argued this time that the centralized training
\nprogram would be emphasized on ensuring the athletes reach their
\npeak form in the Olympics.<\/p>\n
\"Our training methods in the past often caused our athletes to
\ndrop their form just before a competition,\" Ishadi said.<\/p>\n
Hindarto said during the meeting that athletes from 14 events
\nhave been groomed for the Olympics, scheduled from July 19 to
\nAug. 4.<\/p>\n
Qualifiers<\/p>\n
Indonesia has booked its Olympic berths in badminton, boxing,
\nthe men's and women's marathon, women's archery, women's tennis
\nand men's beach volleyball. It is currently hoping for further
\nplaces in weight lifting, rowing, canoeing, swimming, diving,
\ntable tennis, men's archery, women's beach volleyball and wind
\nsurfing.<\/p>\n
The national men's beach volleyball trio were the most recent
\nqualifiers for Atlanta when they finished 24th in the final
\nqualifying round in Rio de Janeiro two weeks ago. Their female
\nteammates' fate will be decided this weekend at the same venue.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will also ask for wildcard entries in judo and
\nshooting.<\/p>\n
Hindarto said that Indonesia dropped its bid to take part in
\nfencing and cycling for technical reasons, but declined to
\nelaborate.<\/p>\n
The council is expected to announce the definite sports
\nIndonesia will participate in the Olympics today.<\/p>\n
\"We will take full notice of President Soeharto's suggestion
\nthat Indonesia should field only potential medal winners,\" Ishadi
\nsaid. The council, however, will also give opportunities to
\nathletes who have better chances in the future, he added.<\/p>\n
Ishadi had said earlier that Indonesia would possibly field a
\nteam of 40. (amd)<\/p>",
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