KONI may call on Supriati for Asian Games<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council (KONI) is considering the
\nselection of veteran athletes for the Pusan 2002 Asian Games,
\nhinting that it will ask middle and long-distance runner Supriati
\nto take to the track again.<\/p>\n
The newly-appointed project manager for the Indonesian team to
\nthe Asiad, Rudolf Warouw, looks to be nurturing hopes that
\nSupriati, the country's prominent track and field star, would be
\nback from retirement in time for the Korean trip.<\/p>\n
However, Rudolf, who is also KONI's secretary general, was
\nnon-commital about the possibility of pursuing Supriati's
\ncomeback.<\/p>\n
\"No. I just heard that Supriati would retire. But who knows
\nwhether she'll change her mind. We will talk with the (track and
\nfield) association,\" Rudolf told reporters after his appointment
\nhere on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The games will be held in the South Korean seaport city from
\nSept. 29 to Oct. 14.<\/p>\n
Supriati has decided to stay away from competition for an
\n\"indefinite time\" because of her family commitments, after she
\ncompeted at the recently concluded 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA)
\nGames in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
KONI spokesman Ahmed Solihin said that as long as Supriati did
\nnot submit a formal notification of her retirement, a return to
\nthe track could not be ruled out.<\/p>\n
Indonesia tentatively plans to send 175 athletes to compete in
\n20 events, for which around Rp 27 billion (US$2.7 million) in
\nfunding will be sought. It will cover athletes' training, two
\noverseas outings, the contingent dispatch and bonuses.<\/p>\n
Indonesia grabbed six gold medals with 128 athletes competing
\nin 21 events at the 1998 Bangkok Asiad. Supriati contributed one
\ngold medal in the 5,000 meters.<\/p>\n
After flopping in Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia will be hoping to
\nmake amends in Pusan.<\/p>\n
Rudolf refused to elaborate on how many medals Indonesia would
\nseek. \"It's too early. We are simply looking for a better
\nachievement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Expectations that Supriati will emulate her triumphant run in
\nBangkok, should she join the team, could be deemed excessive
\ngiven the competition she would be likely to face.<\/p>\n
Supriati won the 5,000 meter gold in Kuala Lumpur in a time of
\n16 minutes and 08 seconds, which was far below her Bangkok time
\nof 15:54.<\/p>\n
The Pusan arena would likely provide her with the daunting
\nprospect of facing the likes of Dong Yan Mei of China, who has
\nclocked a best time of 15:03.<\/p>\n
\"You can assess yourself how the odds look. There is a chance,
\nalbeit slim,\" Tigor Tanjung, the secretary general of the
\nIndonesia Amateur Athletics Association (PASI), told The Jakarta
\nPost, while leaving the decision to Supriati.<\/p>\n
KONI also appointed I.G.K. Manila as deputy project manager,
\nImron Z.S. as the training director and C.E.W. Gozal as deputy
\ntraining director.<\/p>\n
Athletes will start a centralized training camp in January.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/koni-may-call-on-supriati-for-asian-games-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }