PRSI may lower recruitment standards<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
In the lead-up to the 22nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the
\nIndonesian Swimming Association (PRSI) will likely ease its
\nrecruitment standards following modest performances by some of
\nthe swimmers at a recent swimming meet.<\/p>\n
PRSI had short-listed 41 swimmers -- 23 men and 18 women --
\nearly in March but after the National Age Group Swimming
\nChampionship, which ended in Jakarta at the weekend, only 20
\nqualified.<\/p>\n
Among the qualifiers was veteran Richard Sam Bera, who won
\nboth of Indonesia's swimming gold medals at the 2001 SEA Games in
\nKuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
"Twenty one swimmers have failed to qualify. That is more than
\nhalf the number," PRSI secretary-general Abdurrahim said in
\nJakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
However, those who failed would not automatically be denied a
\nchance to make the squad, he said.<\/p>\n
"We will evaluate why they failed. Is the gap between their
\nmarks and the limits not too wide? If it's only by a hundredth of
\na second, the swimmers still deserve to join the training camp,"
\nAbdurrahim said.<\/p>\n
PRSI will announce more recruits next week, while the team,
\nexpected to consist of 25 members, will be announced at the end
\nof July.<\/p>\n
The 20 automatic qualifiers exclude six overseas-based
\nswimmers. They are U.S.-based Hendrik Eko, Felix C. Sutanto, Ati
\nYuliani and Hanny Dwi Prasetyo, and Australia-based Siripiya
\nSutanto and M. Akbar Nasution.<\/p>\n
Only Hanny competed at the national championship, recording
\n54.83 seconds in the 100-meters freestyle and 2.128 minutes in
\nthe 200-meters freestyle. The limit was set at 55.13 seconds and
\n2.135 minutes respectively.<\/p>\n
PRSI also announced the recruitment of Elsa Manora Nasution, a
\nregular member of the national team, who was not in the initial
\n41-strong list but managed to beat the limit.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahim said the time limit had been set based on the SEA
\nGames' marks, which were roughly equal to fifth or sixth place in
\nthe respective events.<\/p>\n
"We have to be realistic about our strength. We will not be
\ntalking just yet about how we can win golds in Vietnam after we
\ncould only win two golds in Kuala Lumpur," said Abdurrahim.<\/p>\n
The aquatics competition, which includes swimming, diving and
\nwater polo, offered 43 golds at the 2001 SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the Vietnam event, PRSI has three options of overseas
\ntryouts for the squad: The 10th FINA World Swimming Championship
\nin Barcelona in July, Universiade in Daegu, South Korea and the
\nAsian Age Group Championships in Macau, both in August.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prsi-may-lower-recruitment-standards-1447893297",
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