Meitri prefers Germany to America for training<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Talented swimmer Meitri Widya Pangestika is
\nrefusing to go to the United States for a 10-month overseas
\ntraining stint for personal reasons in addition to wanting to
\nstudy in her hometown of Purwokerto, Central Java.<\/p>\n
Meitri, aged 19, who has been a member of the national squad
\nat four SEA Games, was sent to the United States for several
\nmonths but said she felt isolated during her stay in California.<\/p>\n
The fear of suffering further culture shock is her main reason
\nfor refusing to go. The second is that she feels inferior as her
\ntimes have been decreasing since the last Games in Chiang Mai,
\nThailand, in 1995.<\/p>\n
Djoko Pramono, the Games training program director, said
\nyesterday at the Senayan swimming pool that Meitri had met her
\nformer German coach, who offered her the opportunity to train in
\nGermany.<\/p>\n
\"She suggested she should be sent to Germany since she knew
\nher coach well and felt that Germany fits her more than the
\nUnited States,\" Djoko said.<\/p>\n
Djoko will meet Indonesian Swimming Association officials
\ntoday or tomorrow to discuss the matter.<\/p>\n
\"Meitri still has the spirit to fight for the country. She
\nstill wants to train in Germany although she would only receive
\nan allowance of Rp 300,000 (US$125) per month,\" Djoko said.<\/p>\n
All national athletes receive Rp 300,000 per month plus Rp
\n40,000 per day for their lodging and laundry fees and Rp 70,000
\nper month for recreational fees.<\/p>\n
Another national squad member, Rita Mariani from East Java,
\nhas asked the association to give her more time to join the
\ncentralized training program because she has to pass her final
\nsenior high school examination in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Djoko said that Rita wants to join the squad as soon as she
\nfinishes her examinations.<\/p>\n
\"The association is to send both a weekly and daily program to
\nIskandar, Rita's coach, so the athlete still can concentrate on
\nher final exams and work out at the same time,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Problem<\/p>\n
Ella Haryono from East Java, a national second string swimmer,
\nalso wanted to join the training after finishing her junior high
\nschool examinations.<\/p>\n
\"We'll talk to Ella and her mother right away to solve the
\nproblem,\" said Djoko.<\/p>\n
Djoko said earlier that the East Java branch had assured him
\nthat Ella did not have a chance of winning medals in the biennial
\nevent, which takes place here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.<\/p>\n
Coach Gerald P. Item said that both Rita and Ella can join the
\nnational squad if they perform well enough at the national
\nselection trials in April.<\/p>\n
Several athletes from other sports organizations, including
\nthe Indonesian Cycling Association, the Indonesian Basketball
\nAssociation and the Indonesian Weightlifting and Powerlifting
\nAssociation, have not come to Jakarta to start the training due
\nto study or work commitments.<\/p>\n
Djoko blamed private companies and schools for not giving
\nspecial permits to their employees and students to join the
\ntraining.<\/p>\n
About 80 percent of the country's 1,720-athlete have joined
\nthe training program, which began on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n
Djoko expects all athletes to equal their personal bests,
\neither from the last SEA Games or the National Games, in April.<\/p>\n
If the athletes can't do that, they have to be dropped from
\nthe main team.<\/p>\n
All athletes will be given a six-day holiday to celebrate
\nIdul Fitri. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/meitri-prefers-germany-to-america-for-training-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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