ISL aims to improve softball showing<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Softball League will open its inaugural season
\non Friday, with the sport's governing body hoping the league will
\nhelp the national team improve its showing at international
\ntournaments.<\/p>\n
Six men's amateur teams, all based in Java, will take part in
\nthe inaugural season, with the opening games to be held at the
\nBung Karno Baseball Stadium in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The participating teams are Prambors and Citra Muda from
\nJakarta, Gorgeous, NISP, Bumi Asri from Bandung, and Sriti from
\nSurabaya.<\/p>\n
The league will use a round-robin format with the games to be
\nplayed over three series.<\/p>\n
The opening series will be held in Jakarta from May 28 to May
\n30, while the second series will take place in Surabaya from July
\n9 to July 11.<\/p>\n
Bandung will host the closing series from Oct. 8 to Oct. 10.
\nThe top four teams will then head back to Jakarta for the final
\nround on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Indonesian Baseball and Softball
\nAssociation (Perbasasi), Suryo Adi Prasetyo, said on Tuesday it
\nwas hoped the league would help create renewed interest in the
\nsport.<\/p>\n
\"We want to promote the sport so that it will become more
\npopular in Indonesia and more youngsters will be interested in
\nplaying softball.<\/p>\n
\"The softball league is also part of our efforts to help the
\nathletes better compete in international competitions,\" Suryo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian men's team won a gold medal at the 1997 SEA
\nGames in Jakarta, but that was the last medal for the national
\nteam in international competition.<\/p>\n
The league also aims to elevate the clubs from amateur to
\nprofessional status.<\/p>\n
Perbasasi executive director Gugun Yudinar said the league
\nwould only feature six clubs that were considered to be the best
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
Financial constraints were also taken into consideration in
\nsetting up the six-club league.<\/p>\n
Gugun said that Perbasasi expected more clubs to take part in
\nthe league's second season.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/isl-aims-to-improve-softball-showing-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}