POBSI to hire foreign coach<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association (POBSI) plans
\nto hire a foreign coach to improve the team's medal chances at
\nthis year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila.<\/p>\n
\"It is part of our effort to win more than one gold medal at
\nthe SEA Games,\" POBSI chairman Putera Astaman said after signing
\na memorandum of understanding with Sampoerna cigarette brand A
\nMild here on Friday.<\/p>\n
As part of the understanding, A Mild will provide funding to
\nallow athletes to take part in overseas tournaments and bonuses
\nfor athletes in Manila. A Mild has promised bonuses of Rp 100
\nmillion (US$10,500) for any POBSI athlete who wins a gold medal
\nat the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
While no coach has been named, Sampoerna product manager Sendi
\nSugiharto said a likely option was Rico \"Ricochet\" Diks of the
\nNetherlands.<\/p>\n
The 2001 European 9-ball champion has been one of Europe's
\ntop-ranked players for a decade.<\/p>\n
Diks visited Indonesia last November at the invitation of A
\nMild to host coaching clinics and play exhibition matches with
\nlocal players in a number of cities.<\/p>\n
Putera said that POBSI planned two international tournaments
\nfor the athletes. One will be the World Games while the other has
\nyet to be decided.<\/p>\n
As part of their preparations for the SEA Games, players will
\nbe required to take part in a physical training regime, which
\nPutera said was necessary to build their confidence.<\/p>\n
POBSI is currently training 16 athletes for the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
They are Soewito, Adam Abdurrahim, Jimmy Jusman, Alwi, M.
\nZulfikri, Yudharman, Rudi Sulaiman, Bambang Saputra, Sayumin
\nTeng, Muslim, Hasan Manfaluti, Tan Kiong and James Lengkang in
\nthe men's division; and Angel, Sri Wahyunih and Desak Raka in the
\nwomen's division.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, two players from Singapore and one from Malaysia
\nhave confirmed their participation in the fourth series of the
\n2005 A Mild Billiard, which will run from Sunday to Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The players are Chan Keng Kwan (ranked 175th in Asia) and Toh
\nLian Han (ranked 141st in Asia) of Singapore, and Malaysian Alan
\nTan Kah Tiam (ranked 16th in Asia).<\/p>\n
They will be up against a host of local contenders for the
\ntotal prize money of Rp 9 million.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pobsi-to-hire-foreign-coach-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}