RI athletes raring to go for gold<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim and Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Djoko Pramono, chief-de-mission of the Indonesian delegation
\nto the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, sent out the message loud and
\nclear: 'We won't be sitting back on our haunches.' The SEA Games
\nwill kick off on Friday in Vietnam.<\/p>\n
\"We are not dozing after a serious seven-month workout,\" he
\nsaid before the departure of the second group of Indonesian
\nathletes to Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Djoko is in charge of development at the National Sports
\nCouncil (KONI).<\/p>\n
As an aide to KONI chairman Agum Gumelar, Djoko has stressed
\nthat the 2003 SEA Games, which will run from Dec. 5 to 14, should
\nbe taken as a stepping-stone to higher international tournaments.<\/p>\n
The policy means that Indonesia, which has less of a
\ncompetitive edge today than in the past, will not be pushing for
\nthe overall championship.<\/p>\n
Indonesia enjoyed a glorious standing as overall champions
\nsince its initial entry into the SEA Games in 1977 until two
\nyears ago. In 2001 and 2002, respectively, rivals Thailand and
\nMalaysia took home the trophy.<\/p>\n
Djoko is confident about his team, made up of young athletes
\nwith the potential of being forged into strong future contenders.<\/p>\n
\"But this doesn't mean we will be complacent about getting
\nmore experience. We will be fighting it out,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are not fighting for the (overall) championship, but to
\nwin as many golds as possible.\"<\/p>\n
Given the results in 1999 and 2001, years when Indonesia
\nfinished third, Djoko said that the pendulum of strength had
\nswung away from Indonesia and that hoping to rank number one in
\nVietnam would be a dream not to come true.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, 379 athletes and officials embarked on their
\nflight to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the host cities of the
\nGames.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is sending 597 athletes and 269 officials, who will
\nbe competing in 28 of the 32 events in Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The athletes are representing Indonesia in archery, aquatics,
\nathletics, badminton, basketball, billiard, boxing, canoeing,
\nchess, cycling, fencing, fin-swimming, gymnastics, judo, karate,
\npencak silat, sepak takraw, shooting, soccer, table tennis, tae
\nkwon do, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and wushu.<\/p>\n
The first group of the Indonesian delegation, comprising 242
\nmembers, left on Friday, and the remainder will make the journey
\nbetween Dec. 3 and Dec. 7.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will be looking to collect around 70 gold medals
\nfrom the 427 on offer.<\/p>\n
Agum, also the Minister of Communications, saw off the
\nathletes in an official ceremony with words of encouragement,
\nsaying they would be able to achieve a satisfying performance.<\/p>\n
He was confident that the squad was ready both physically and
\nmentally, and was thus optimistic about their performance.<\/p>\n
Agum also reminded the athletes of their non-sporting tasks as
\nIndonesia's envoys to foster good relations with neighbors
\nthrough sports.<\/p>\n
The athletes looked in high spirits and optimistic.<\/p>\n
Siti Nurjanah, a beach volleyball player, told reporters that
\nshe would do her best in the SEA Games and asked for support from
\nall Indonesians.<\/p>\n
\"Pray for us, and wish the contingent the best,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Fencing athlete Indra Krisnamusi said he was fired up about
\nthe competition and hoped he would become part of the Indonesia
\nAwakens program.<\/p>\n
The program aims to net the 100 best athletes from the SEA
\nGames in preparation for bigger events, such as the 2006 Asian
\nGames in Qatar.<\/p>\n
\"Such a scheme would certainly brighten the future of
\nIndonesian sports in the region, as well as the athletes'
\nfuture,\" he said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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