Recovered Lili set for SEAG badminton event<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women's doubles player Lili Tampi is
\nset for the 18th Southeast Asian Games badminton competition
\nafter recovering from a leg injury.<\/p>\n
National women's team coach Imelda Wiguna told reporters
\nyesterday that doubles specialist Lili has resumed her training
\nprogram with her long-time partner Finarsih this week.<\/p>\n
\"I'm convinced that Lili is ready to play in the Games,\" said
\nImelda, a prominent world doubles player in the 1970s.<\/p>\n
The knee injury has cost Lili and Finarsih a ticket to the
\nworld grand prix finals in Singapore from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3. They
\ndropped from third at the beginning of the season to beyond the
\nelite group of eight in the rankings.<\/p>\n
Only eight doubles teams are eligible for the season-ending
\ntournament.<\/p>\n
Lili made her last appearance at the World Cup here in
\nSeptember, when she and Finarsih crashed out of the early round.<\/p>\n
The drastic drop in their in world rankings may also dash the
\npair's hopes of playing in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Lili won all her doubles matches to help Indonesia regain the
\nprestigious Uber Cup women's team championship trophy last year.
\nIndonesia last took the Cup in 1975.<\/p>\n
Imelda said that Lili and Finarsih will now focus on the SEA
\nGames in Chiang Mai, Thailand next month. The coach added that
\nLili's inclusion in the national team is expected to spur its bid
\nto sweep all seven badminton gold medals.<\/p>\n
Favorite Indonesia has picked men's singles Joko Suprianto and
\nArdy Wiranata, world men's doubles champions Ricky Subagja and
\nRexy Mainaky, women's singles Susi Susanti and Mia Audina and
\nworld women's doubles number five Eliza and Zelin Resiana for the
\nSEA Games.<\/p>\n
World champion Hariyanto Arbi and Olympic gold medalist Alan
\nBudikusuma were sidelined from the national badminton squad for
\nthe Games.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, the Indonesian equestrian team denied that the
\ndisadvantage of riding unfamiliar horses would prevent it from
\nwinning two gold medals in the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
\"We don't think it will matter to us. We mean to get medals
\nthere, whichever horses we ride,\" national SEA Games equestrian
\nproject officer, Suheryana, said.<\/p>\n
He requested that the organizing committee distribute the
\nhorses fairly. \"They should not group good horses for certain
\nteams and give the remnant to the other teams,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Suheryana met the Chairman of the National Sports Council,
\nWismoyo Arismunandar, yesterday prior to his team's departure to
\nthe Asia Pacific Equestrian Championships in Wereby, Victoria,
\nAustralia, slated for Nov. 13 to Nov. 18.<\/p>\n
\"Our athletes will learn how to get used to riding unfamiliar
\nhorses as quickly as possible during the championships,\"
\nSuheryana said.<\/p>\n
Most Southeast Asian countries are expected to enter the
\nchampionships.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian team comprises Ardy Hapsoro, Diah Wulandari and
\nEndaryanto, who will compete in dressage; show jumpers Indra
\nRosendi, Albert Palelu and Romi Syahrial, and the three-day event
\ntrio of Sutoyo Haryanto, Nasri Labonu and Gutomo.<\/p>\n
Equestrian events will offer nine gold medals in their first
\ninclusion at the SEA Games in Chiang Mai. (amd)<\/p>",
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