Overseas competitions needed, Agung says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung
\nLaksono advised sports bodies on Wednesday to fund overseas warm-
\nup competitions for their athletes ahead of the 20th Southeast
\nAsian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.<\/p>\n
\"Athletes appear prepared for the SEA Games but they should
\nhave more overseas tryouts to boost their confidence,\" he said
\nafter visiting the training centers for swimming, water polo,
\ndiving, squash and sepak takraw.<\/p>\n
Agung urged the National Sports Council (KONI) and sports
\norganizations to provide financial assistance for the overseas
\ntryouts, saying the government already disbursed its budget
\nallocation for the Games.<\/p>\n
The National Development and Planning Board (Bappenas) and the
\nGelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS) provided Rp 5.5 billion
\n(US$797,000) and Rp 4.5 billion respectively to finance the
\ntraining.<\/p>\n
Agung said previously that the government could not provide
\nmore funds, but he indicated on Wednesday that it would be able
\nto dispense bonuses to the winners.<\/p>\n
\"There is extra money to be given as bonuses to successful
\nathletes but KONI must decide the amount of the bonuses.\" He
\nadded the money might be taken from the state budget.<\/p>\n
Agung said he was confident Indonesia could grab at least 70
\ngolds to retain the overall title at the event from Aug. 7 to
\nAug. 15.<\/p>\n
\"We have a big chance to win 70 golds and even more. The
\ntraining programs and human resources are well-prepared. Some
\nsport bodies have even groomed potential juniors for the Games,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Sepak takraw head coach Andi Ali Saladdin said athletes would
\nonly have domestic tryouts in Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya to
\nprepare for the event due to the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Sepak Takraw Association (Persetasi) picked the
\nmen's national team of Jato, Miftah, Rasiwan, Tri Aji, Edi R.,
\nAsri Syam, Dodi, Eko, Masrianto, Narsum, Jasri and Ari Catur. No
\nwomen's event will be featured at the Games because host Brunei
\nhas no women's team, Andi said.<\/p>\n
Andi said Indonesia would be tested by Thailand and Malaysia
\nin the event, but he was optimistic that his team could win a
\nbronze.<\/p>\n
\"We have young players with high motivation. Ten out of 12
\nplayers come from the same region, Central Java, and this also
\nhas motivated the athletes to perform well in the Games. They are
\nalso preparing for the National Games next year in Surabaya,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
From the pool, the Indonesian Swimming Association (PRSI) only
\nanticipates four golds from men's swimmers Richard Sam Bera and
\nWisnu Wardhana in the freestyle and Felix and Albert Sutanto in
\nthe backstroke and relay events.<\/p>\n
Kristiono Sumono, PRSI deputy training director, said PRSI was
\nforced to reduce its target following the withdrawal of two
\nwomen's swimmers Catherine Surya and Rita Mariani, who won six
\nout of 10 golds in the 1997 SEA Games here.<\/p>\n
His statement contradicted KONI's prediction to take at least
\nfive golds swimming.<\/p>\n
Rita, who was on Indonesia's team in the 13th Asian Games in
\nBangkok last year, withdrew because she said she was unprepared.<\/p>\n
Catherine is undergoing medical treatment here after she
\ninjured her right thigh during training in Brisbane, Australia.
\nThe injury prevented her from competing in the Asiad. (ivy)<\/p>",
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