Nyoman and Ruwiyati aim to improve personal bests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Top track and field athletes Ni Nyoman Rae and
\nRuwiyati set on Monday modest targets of improving their personal
\nbests at the Asian Games in Bangkok, although they did not rule
\nout their chances of winning medals.<\/p>\n
"My target is only to improve my personal best. I don't want
\nto think about the medal first," Nyoman said during the signing
\nof a sponsorship contract between the Indonesian Amateur
\nAthletics Association (PASI) and equipment manufacturer Reebok.<\/p>\n
Nyoman expressed her guarded optimism that she could finish on
\nthe podium at the Asiad if she manages to maintain her form that
\nhelped her chalk up a personal best of 13.25 meters at the Brunei
\nOpen early this month.<\/p>\n
"The bronze medalist at the Asian Championships in Fukuoka in
\nSeptember leaped 13.24 meters. I think if I jump longer at Asiad,
\nI can win at least the bronze. Please, pray for me," she said.<\/p>\n
The 20-year-old long jumper expected tough opposition from
\nChinese, South Korean and Japanese rivals whom she said to
\ndominate the Asiad.<\/p>\n
The quadrennial event opens on Dec. 6 and runs through Dec.
\n20.<\/p>\n
Marathon specialist Ruwiyati also said she was aiming to
\nsurpass her best time of two hours and 34 minutes, set at the
\n1995 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.<\/p>\n
"I don't know what place I will finish when I take on strong
\nrunners from China, South Korea and Japan. It's more important
\nfor me to try," said Ruwiyati, who will make her debut at the
\ncontinent's major sporting event.<\/p>\n
The marathons will be held on the opening day of competition
\non Dec. 7.<\/p>\n
Along with Ruwiyati and Nyoman, Indonesia has named
\nmarathonman Suyono, women's middle distance runner Supriyati
\nSutono and women's walker Tersiana Ruwi Rohi for the Games track
\nand field competition.<\/p>\n
PASI secretary-general, Barmawi Chaidir, said that all the
\nathletes would be in their best shape at the Asiad.<\/p>\n
As for the funding of his team's appearance in Asian Games, he
\nsaid that PASI was raising the money itself.<\/p>\n
The National Sports Council (KONI) has categorized track and
\nfield as among the 10 sports with slimmer prospects of giving
\nIndonesia medals at Asiad. Consequently, the organizations of the
\nsports in this category are having to finance their athletes'
\ntrip to Bangkok.<\/p>\n
"How can the council pay our expenses while they have not
\nreimbursed the Rp 900 million (US$122,000 at the current exchange
\nrate) we spent to finance the training program for 1997 SEA
\nGames," Chaidir said.<\/p>\n
Chaidir also said that the 1999 SEA Games training camp would
\nstart after the Idul Fitri holiday, which falls in January.<\/p>\n
PASI received kit sponsorship from Reebok for its five Asiad-
\nbound athletes. (yan)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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