Indonesian karatekas to gain unprecedented experience<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian national karatekas will have an unprecedented
\nopportunity to experience an international karate tournament when
\nthey participate at the 2002 Indonesian Open Karate Tournament,
\nto be held here from June 4 through June 6.<\/p>\n
The event will be organized by the Indonesian Karatedo
\nFederation (Forki) at the Bung Karno Indoor Tennis Stadium at the
\nBung Karno Sports Complex.<\/p>\n
\"Forki has organized this tournament, not only to prepare and
\nselect our karatekas for the Asian Games in Busan, but also to
\nexpose them to an international-level tournament,\" Forki chairman
\nLuhut Binsar Panjaitan said on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We are preparing 44 karatekas for the Asian Games and it
\nwould be very expensive to send them to tournaments abroad.<\/p>\n
\"By staging the event here, not only will they have the chance
\nto meet international karatekas but we also have the opportunity
\nto show that Indonesia is a safe tournament venue,\" he added.<\/p>\n
So far, 15 countries have confirmed their participation, with
\nsix countries sending their national teams. These are from
\nBangladesh, France, host Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan and the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Other participants are from Australia, Canada, Finland,
\nGermany, India, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and South Africa.<\/p>\n
\"Earlier, we organized a cocktail party for several
\nambassadors based here to secure their countries' participation.
\nWe wanted to assure them that everything was fine here,\" said
\nLuhut, a retired Army lieutenant general.<\/p>\n
\"Earlier, we planned to stage the tournament in Bali or
\nYogyakarta but then decided to have it here. It is quite safe
\nhere in Jakarta,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the organizing committee Hermawan
\nSulistyo said the event would cost about Rp 1 billion
\n(US$108,000) to Rp 3.5 billion, depending on the number of
\nparticipants.<\/p>\n
\"We have invited karatekas from 72 countries to take part in
\nthe event. But we expect some 300 karatekas from 21 countries to
\ncome,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We will bear their expenses during their stay here. It will
\ncost us about Rp 3.5 million if all countries turn up.\"<\/p>\n
The Indonesian karatekas are grouped in two teams of 22
\ncombatants each and will compete in all 19 events.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-karatekas-to-gain-unprecedented-experience-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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