KONI provides airfares for SEAG chess players<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The cash-strapped Indonesian chess team has been
\nrelieved of some financial problems in its commitment to the
\nupcoming SEA Games where chess will be played as an exhibition
\nevent, as the National Sports Council (KONI) will pay for its air
\nfares.<\/p>\n
The aid was unveiled here on Monday, just two days prior the
\nteam's departure to the event in Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
The announcement was a turnaround in KONI's stance regarding
\nthe Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi). KONI, which is set to
\nsend around 540 athletes in 29 events excluding the chess team,
\nhad formerly stated that there was no cash available for the
\nchess team.<\/p>\n
"We talked over the request by Percasi for financial support
\nand we decided to help the team," KONI's deputy chairman Arie
\nSudewo said during his reception of the team at the office.<\/p>\n
The visiting group was led by Percasi Chairman Machnan
\nKamaludin and Eka Putra Wirya, the organization's chief in charge
\nof athlete development.<\/p>\n
Arie called for the team to put up a serious fight in spite of
\nthe fact that chess will be played as an exhibition only.<\/p>\n
"A win will not diminish in value only because it is an
\nexhibition. It will surely be a source of pride to the nation,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The eight players -- four men and four women -- will be
\naccompanied by four officials.<\/p>\n
The players are GM Edhi Handoko, IM Danny Juswanto, FM Irwanto
\nSadikin, Susanto Megaranto in the men's category, and Upi
\nDamayanti Tamim, Ai Zakiah, Tutu Rahayu, Evi Lindiawati in the
\nwomen's.<\/p>\n
Team manager Eka Putra Wirya said that his squad would settle
\nfor a clutch of between one and two gold medals, hopefully from
\nthe men's individuals and team events.<\/p>\n
In preparing for the competition the team participated in an
\neight-day training camp in the Puncak, a mountain resort in West
\nJava, some 75 kilometers south of here. Two tryout sessions took
\nplace -- against BNI and Gunadarma chess clubs.<\/p>\n
Only three categories will be played: men's individual, team
\nand women's individual. The women's team has been dropped because
\nthere were insufficient players as required by the rules.<\/p>\n
The countries to take part in the chess competition include
\nBrunei, Myanmar, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia
\nand Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The Kuala Lumpur meet may serve as a warmup arena for the
\nparticipants before they enter the real test when chess is
\nofficially included as a medal event in Vietnam in two years
\ntime. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/koni-provides-airfares-for-seag-chess-players-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}