Provinces to focus on SEA Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Preparing Indonesian athletes for the Southeast
\nAsian Games is the top priority for the National Sports Council
\n(KONI) and its provincial chapters.<\/p>\n
Soegijono, the chairman of the council's Central Java chapter,
\nsaid KONI's training director Hindarto told him not to be too
\nconcerned with preparations for the National Games (PON) slated
\nfor September next year.<\/p>\n
\"For the time being, we must concentrate on preparations for
\nthe upcoming SEA Games in Thailand in December this year and on
\nhow we can fulfill our target to retain the overall championship
\ntitle,\" Hindarto was quoted by Antara as saying. Hindarto
\naccompanied KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar on his visit to
\nSemarang, the capital of Central Java, to open an international
\nbridge tournament on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Soegijono earlier expressed concern over the fact that KONI
\nhas not yet set the schedules for each sport to be contested in
\nthe qualifying rounds for the National Games.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, qualifying round matches should begin one year
\nprior to the National Games. This means that the first qualifying
\nround matches should start in September and the schedules should
\nhave been issued by now to help provincial chapters to plan their
\npreparations.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo, in response to Soegijono's concern, said that the
\nvarious national championships to be held this year by each
\nsports organization should serve as the qualifying round matches
\nfor the Games.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo was speaking after opening an international foursome
\nbridge open tournament in Semarang, Central Java, on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Six foreign teams from Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, Chinese
\nTaipei and England are taking part in the three-day tournament,
\nwhich will be concluded tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Australia and the Netherlands withdrew from the annual
\ntournament, which offers a total cash prize of Rp 80 million
\n(US$36,000), including $10,000 for the first winner.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has 49 teams from various cities and provinces,
\nincluding strong teams from Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, West Nusa
\nTenggara, Denpasar, Padang and Central Java, competing.<\/p>\n
The organizer, a cigarette manufacturer, expressed hope that
\nbridge would be included in next year's National Games.<\/p>\n
Wismoyo said he would consider the suggestion, but added that
\nthe kinds of sports contested during PON are those which are
\ncontested at the Olympics, the Asian Games and the Southeast
\nAsian Games. Bridge is never contested at those meets.<\/p>\n
Contract bridge, like chess, has its own Olympic-level
\nchampionship, the Bridge Olympiad. (arf)<\/p>",
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