KONI set to review its Asian Games target<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Governing Body's 1990
\nprogram to jack up Indonesia's position to the top four in Asia
\nby the year 2002, might be too optimistic, an official said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's poor showing at the recently concluded Asian Games
\nin Hiroshima and the entrance of five ex-Soviet republics into
\nthe Asian sports scene, two of which finished fourth and fifth in
\nHiroshima, are among reasons cited by Timbul Thomas Lubis, the
\nGoverning Body's deputy secretary general, when asked by
\nreporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Another reason, according to Timbul, is that up to now,
\nIndonesia still relies heavily on badminton, the only sport in
\nwhich Indonesia, along with China and South Korea, traditionally
\nshare world crowns.<\/p>\n
Badminton gave Indonesia its three gold medals in the recent
\nAsian Games in Hiroshima.<\/p>\n
Timbul said he questioned Indonesia's ability to earn golds
\nfrom other sports because, in order to get to Asia's top four,
\nIndonesia must be able to scoop at least 30 golds.<\/p>\n
Hosting the 14th Asian Games in the year 2002 could serve as a
\npsychological stimulus to reach the target, Timbul said,
\nreferring to the success Indonesia achieved when hosting the
\nfourth Asian Games in 1962 where Indonesia's position leapfrogged
\nto second from the 14th it finished in four years before in
\nTokyo.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesia has to carefully weigh its ability to
\nprovide Asian Games-class infrastructures and facilities before
\napplying for becoming a host country, Timbul said, adding that
\nwhether or not Indonesia should host the year 2002 Asian Games
\ndepended on the government policy.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has revealed its bid to play host to the first Asian
\nGames in the second millennium along with Taipei and Pusan in
\nSouth Korea.<\/p>\n
This, Timbul said, will be a topic of discussion at the
\nGoverning Body's congress slated for early next year.<\/p>\n
The other two topics will be how to ensure sustainable sports
\ndevelopment, particularly for certain gold-hauling sports such as
\nbadminton whose development should take priority, and how to
\nimprove the present sports management. (arf)<\/p>",
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