National swimmers fail to meet required times<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National swimmers being groomed for the 13th
\nAsian Games in December lived up to their status as the
\ncontinent's decided outsiders when they fell short of qualifying
\ntimes at the 20th National Interclub Championships on Monday.<\/p>\n
A sluggish Felix C. Sutanto exceeded the one minute mark in
\nthe men's 100-meter freestyle. The Southeast Asian Games
\nchampion's slowest-ever competition time of 1:00.31 was still the
\nfastest among the eight swimmers in Monday's final.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council set 56.60 seconds or better as the
\nqualifying time for the Asiad.<\/p>\n
Asked about his prospects at the Games, Felix, who holds the
\nnational record of 55.7 seconds set at the California State
\nChampionships in May, replied: \"Let's wait and see.\"<\/p>\n
The Games will take place in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.
\nThe sports council has reserved eight places for the swimmers in
\nthe national team for the continent's major sports event.<\/p>\n
Indonesia did not take part in the 1994 Asiad swimming
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
Elsa Manora Nasution and Silvy Triana fared even worse, losing
\nto unfavored Lisa Wiryasaputra in the women's 100m backstroke.<\/p>\n
Lisa swam 1:01.42, while Elsa and Silvy trailed in 1:08.11 and
\n1:09.73 respectively.<\/p>\n
The Asian Games qualifying time in the event was set at
\n1:02.70.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Association Rahardi
\nRamelan said earlier in the day he would not insist that the
\ncouncil send the swimmers if they missed the qualifying times.<\/p>\n
\"If they perform poorly at this tournament, why should we
\ninsist on sending them to the Asiad? We have to realize that we
\nare taking on Asia's world-class swimmers,\" Rahardi said after
\ndeclaring the tournament open at the Senayan swimming pool.<\/p>\n
Last week, Silvy and coach Gerald P. Item said they were
\npessimistic the swimmers would reach the council's standard time
\nafter making early exits from their respective overseas training
\nsessions.<\/p>\n
Head coach Lukman Niode refused to use the abbreviated
\noverseas stint as an excuse for the swimmers to perform below
\npar.<\/p>\n
\"We still have a chance to shine at the Asiad although we no
\nlonger can train abroad. The likes of Catherine Surya and Rita
\nMariani, particularly, are the swimmers to watch,\" said Lukman, a
\nformer top national swimmer.<\/p>\n
Rita and Catherine are missing from the three-day tournament.<\/p>\n
More than 450 swimmers from 68 clubs in 17 provinces are
\ntaking part in the annual event. (yan)<\/p>",
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