KONI needs to develop more young athletes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In its effort to improve athletes performances
\nand reach higher levels of achievement in international
\ncompetitions, the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) needs to
\ndevelop more young athletes and set priorities on sports featured
\nin the multi-sport events.<\/p>\n
KONI's deputy in charge of athletes development, I Gusti
\nKompyang Manila, told reporters Thursday: \"Indonesia must send
\nmore young athletes to international tournaments to allow them to
\ngain more experience. It will enhance their skills. We shouldn't
\nbe discouraged by poor results.\"<\/p>\n
\"They will be at their peaks in another three or four years.
\nTherefore, a good training program for each athlete is necessary
\nto reach our goal,\" said Manila, in his first face-to-face with
\nreporters after being installed as the deputy.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia must set clear targets for its athletes at the
\nbiennial SEA Games and the quadrennial Asian Games (Asiad) and
\nOlympics. The ultimate goal is to see our athletes achieve their
\ntop performances in the Olympics.\"<\/p>\n
\"We should not be worried if our youngsters perform poorly in
\nthe 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. Some of them can still be
\nprepared for the 2002 Pusan Asiad and the 2003 SEA Games before
\ncompeting in the 2004 Athens Olympics.\"<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is we know what we do and where we
\nwant to go.\"<\/p>\n
Manila said KONI should set up priorities on sports to be
\nstaged in the three multi-sport events.<\/p>\n
\"It's very important to give top priority to Olympic sports as
\nit will save energy and money. Those sports will also be featured
\nin other multi-sport events. We must increase our athletes'
\nachievements in those sports.\"<\/p>\n
\"As for traditional and regional sports, we can focus
\ndevelopment on Asiad or Southeast Asian region or even national
\nchampionships.\"<\/p>\n
Manila also hoped that badminton players, as the country's
\nbest hope, should retain and improve their performance in
\nupcoming events.<\/p>\n
\"Archers and weightlifters must also improve performances as
\nthe sports have grabbed silver and bronze medals in Olympics. In
\nthe next four years, they must be able to bring home golds.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia has won gold medals from badminton since it was
\nofficially featured for the first time in the 1992 Barcelona
\nOlympics. While national archers presented the first medal for
\nIndonesia in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. A trio female archers
\nbrought home the silver.<\/p>\n
Three women's weightlifters had their debut in the 2000 Sydney
\nOlympics and impressively brought home one silver and two
\nbronzes.<\/p>\n
Manila said a scientific approach to training and
\ntechnological improvements are needed to achieve the goals.<\/p>\n
\"It's also important to improve coaches' qualifications and
\nskills.\" (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/koni-needs-to-develop-more-young-athletes-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}