RI prepares for 1997 SEA Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two sports organizations have taken an
\ninitiative to start preparing their athletes for the 19th
\nSoutheast Asian Games here next year.<\/p>\n
One of them, the Indonesian Track and Field Association
\n(PASI), has even taken preparatory action along the lines
\nsuggested by the National Sports Council (KONI) following
\nIndonesia's humiliating performance in the SEA Games in Chiang
\nMai, Thailand last year.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Shooting Association (Perbakin) is the other
\nforward-thinking organization, but it will only kick off its
\ntraining camp at the end of the fasting month on Feb. 21. It is
\ncurrently completing its national selection for the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Gurmilang Kartasasmita, an official with PASI, told The
\nJakarta Post yesterday that the centralized training program
\nbegan on Jan. 3, involving a combination of 40 senior and junior
\nathletes. Others train in the association's provincial camps.<\/p>\n
Gurmilang was speaking at the national congress held by KONI
\nyesterday. A total of 121 representatives of all provincial
\nsports bodies, sports and sports-related organizations under
\nKONI's supervision are attending the annual meeting which
\nconcludes today.<\/p>\n
KONI has not formally asked the sports organizations to begin
\npreparation for the SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Thailand topped the medals tally of the last Games with 157
\ngolds, 98 silvers and 91 bronzes. Defending champions Indonesia
\nfinished a distant second with 77 gold, 67 silver and 77 bronze
\nmedals.<\/p>\n
KONI believe that long-term training camp programs contributed
\nsignificantly to Thailand's success in Chiang Mai. By contrast,
\nIndonesia only spent eight months preparing for the Games.<\/p>\n
Gurmilang said that the national track and field team being
\ngroomed for the 19th SEA Games here next year will appear at the
\nMalaysia Open and Singapore Open later this year.<\/p>\n
Gurmilang admitted that if the athletes reach their peak
\nperformance in these two outings, they might hit a slowdown
\nduring the 14th National Games scheduled for September.<\/p>\n
\"If this happens, it will not be beneficial for the provinces
\nto which the athletes belong,\" Gurmilang said.<\/p>\n
\" But for PASI, the two Opens are much more important than the
\nNational Games. The two competitions are Asian-level ones, in
\nwhich athletic superpowers including China and Central Asian
\ncountries will take part.\"<\/p>\n
KONI training director Hindarto said however that the training
\nsessions run by the two sports bodies were not set up just for
\nthe 19th SEA Games.<\/p>\n
\"As far as I know the camps are part of their annual training
\nprograms. They can, of course, focus the programs toward the 19th
\nSEA Games,\" Hindarto said.<\/p>\n
According to Hindarto, the upcoming National Games will be the
\nfirst eligibility test for athletes who want to wear the national
\ncolors in 19th SEA Games. (arf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-prepares-for-1997-sea-games-1447893297",
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