Indonesian hockey needs artificial-grass field<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Field hockey in Indonesia is missing one thing
\n-- a good field.<\/p>\n
Primadi Tabarani of the Indonesian Field Hockey Association
\ntold The Jakarta Post that Indonesia desperately needs an
\nartificial-grass field to develop the sport in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The International Olympic Committee ruled out play on natural
\ngrass since the 1976 Games in Montreal.<\/p>\n
\"Until today Indonesia still does not have such a field,\" said
\nPrimadi, who heads up the association's department of research
\nand development.<\/p>\n
Primadi, who is also the chairman of the West Java Hockey
\nAssociation, blamed the absence for the sport's failure to
\ndevelop here.<\/p>\n
\"All this time we've practiced on natural grass. But every
\ntime we have to participate in international tournaments it's
\ndifficult to adjust to the artificial turf,\" he said after
\nspeaking with the National Sports Council.<\/p>\n
Primadi said that other countries routinely refuse invitations
\nto come and play here because of the conditions.<\/p>\n
\"The situation results in our athletes losing experience
\nbecause they don't have enough matches against other countries
\nhere and abroad,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rajkumar Singh, chairman of the association, told the Post
\nthat he hopes the association's patron, the Texmaco textile
\ncompany, would provide a new field.<\/p>\n
\"Although we haven't received any official information, we
\nhope they can provide at least one international standard field,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Both officials said that if Indonesia wants to hold field
\nhockey matches in the upcoming SEA Games here, the country has to
\nhave a field, which could take six to nine months to set up.<\/p>\n
\"If Indonesia does not have the field, it won't be picked as
\nthe Asian Games host,\" Singh said.<\/p>\n
Primadi said that field hockey is known in Asia, but not very
\npopular here. Since the 1960s, hockey has not been played at many
\nelementary and high schools here.<\/p>\n
\"In many Asian countries, field hockey is taught in elementary
\nschools and at military academies. But here only several high
\nschools and academies have hockey teams,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, Singh said the association does not have any problem
\nwith a supply of players.<\/p>\n
\"Many students are interested in hockey even though it's not
\npopular here,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia won the field hockey bronze in the 17th Southeast
\nAsian Games in Singapore in 1993. At the last SEA Games,
\nIndonesia was banned from taking part in the Games. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-hockey-needs-artificial-grass-field-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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