RI hires U.S. coach for national bowlers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has hired American coach James Gordon
\nto help its bowling team boost its performances and therefore
\nmatch its opponents during the 19th SEA Games here next year.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Bowling Association, Oka F. Supit,
\nsaid yesterday that Gordon will start coaching in January. He
\nwill polish the skills of 12 bowlers named for the SEA Games
\nduring an eight-month intensive training program.<\/p>\n
Another 12 players from North Sumatra and East Java and
\nCentral Java have also been picked to act as the national team's
\nsparring partners.<\/p>\n
\"We have to employ a foreign coach otherwise we cannot keep up
\nwith our opponents. Teams like Singapore and the Philippines have
\nimproved so fast in the past four or five years, while at the
\nsame time we have not made any steps forward,\" Oka said.<\/p>\n
Gordon signed with the bowling association earlier this month,
\nbut was not available to begin his program then due to Christmas
\nand New Year commitments.<\/p>\n
\"We expect from a lot James, although we do not have as good
\nfacilities as neighboring countries do,\" Oka said, adding that
\nthe national team will work out in an old bowling center built in
\nthe 1930s.<\/p>\n
Oka said that given Indonesia's unimpressive performance in
\nthe last SEA Games he would not place too much burden on his
\nathletes. \"We are not going to exaggerate. Winning one gold medal
\nwill be great,\" he said. A total of 12 golds are on offer in next
\nyear's Games.<\/p>\n
Indonesia managed only a bronze in the last meet in Chiang
\nMai, Thailand, last December.<\/p>\n
Oka said that Singapore's world-beaters would probably
\nmaintain their supremacy in the bowling lanes next year. They
\nromped home with five golds, three silvers and three bronzes in
\nChiang Mai. (amd)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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