Indonesian swimmers join upset Asiad sideliners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Women's swimmers turned out to be among the 12
\nathletes dropped from the Indonesian team for the 12th Asian
\nGames in Hiroshima when the national sports governing body (KONI)
\nannounced the team yesterday.<\/p>\n
National pool queen Elsa Manora Nasution and Meitri Widya
\nPangestika will miss the continent's biggest sports event,
\nbecause of KONI's final judgment that they had little or no
\nchance of winning medals.<\/p>\n
Elsa and Meitri were groomed for relay events during the Games
\nbefore the national swimming body (PRSI) changed its mind about
\ngiving them spots.<\/p>\n
Elsa set four new national records during her training in
\nAmerica last month.<\/p>\n
\"It's a surprise and a disappointment. I feel that both
\nswimmers are in their top form,\" coach Raja Nasution told
\nreporters. However, he added that he would not lodge any protest
\nwith KONI, saying that he was obliged to follow the order.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will now bank on its men's team made up of Wisnu
\nWardhana, Richard Sambera and Sutanto's brothers of Felix and
\nAlbert.<\/p>\n
They have been prepared for the relay events, but both Wisnu
\nand Richard will be used for individual short-distance events.
\n\"Asian men's swimmers have equal chances. It will take some luck
\nfor them to come out on top,\" said Raja, who also Elsa's father.<\/p>\n
Ten athletes comprising six cyclists, two tennis players, a
\nbowler and two boxers were also dropped several days after KONI
\nannounced the team lineup on Sept. 26. A cyclist, however, joined
\nthe national squad in the final minutes before the decision.<\/p>\n
On Monday, national boxing great Syamsul Anwar criticized a
\ndecision to remove Hendrik Simangunsong and Albert Papilaya, the
\ncountry's top boxers, from the squad, following their TKO defeats
\nin a local tournament in Cuba.<\/p>\n
But executive chairman of the national boxing body (Pertina)
\nImron ZS strongly defended the option, saying that the two
\nboxers' form had deteriorated even before they underwent a
\ntraining stint in Cuba.<\/p>\n
\"We gave them a final opportunity by sending them to Cuba, but
\nthey failed to make progress,\" said Imron. He added that Pertina
\nwould not give them any special privileges because they had big
\nnames.<\/p>\n
Slimmer team<\/p>\n
The national squad will now include 139 athletes who will
\ncompete in 23 events during the Oct. 2-16 Games. Despite the
\ndrop, KONI chairman Surono expressed his guarded optimism that
\nIndonesia would improve its medal-tally.<\/p>\n
Surono, after swearing in the contingent, admitted that
\nIndonesia had reconsidered its bid to finish sixth overall. He
\nsaid that the five former Soviet Union republics which are making
\ntheir Asian Games debut will be strong challengers.<\/p>\n
\"Our main target now is simply winning more medals, and not to
\nconcentrate on what position we end up with,\" said Surono. The
\nIndonesian team of 138 finished seventh overall at the 1990 meet
\nwith three golds, seven silvers and 21 bronzes.<\/p>\n
An official in charge of the fund raising program, Soesilo
\nSoedarman, also said yesterday KONI managed to rack up Rp 600
\nmillion (US$277,000) over and above the set budget of Rp 3
\nbillion ($1.38 million) needed to send the athletes and cover
\ntheir daily expenses during the two-week competitions.<\/p>\n
He added the state-owned Garuda Airways will also provide free
\nshuttle flight for the contingent. (amd)<\/p>",
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