RI rowers upbeat over Asiad<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Rowing Association pledged
\nyesterday to soldier on with preparations for the 13th Asian
\nGames despite financial and practice facility deficiencies.<\/p>\n
Head coach Budiman Setiawan said his 16 recruits had trained
\nin a modest course at Jatiluhur reservoir in Purwakarta, West
\nJava, since mid-February, but he was delighted by their
\nenthusiasm and achievements.<\/p>\n
"Some rowers managed to clock their best time of six minutes
\nand 33 seconds in double sculls, a few seconds faster than their
\nstrongest opponents from China," an elated Budiman said after a
\nmeeting with the National Sports Council's training director
\nMuhammad Hindarto.<\/p>\n
He added that in general the rowers improved on marks they set
\nen route to winning last year's Southeast Asian Games by 10
\nseconds.<\/p>\n
"To row in an undefined course is difficult but our athletes
\nproved they could manage to clock fine times. I hope they will
\nperform better in an international race like Asiad," said
\nBudiman, who is also the rowing body's general secretary.<\/p>\n
He said the training center would be moved to a better
\nequipped facility belonging to the Army's special force in
\nBatujajar, near Bandung, as soon the rowers returned from the
\nMerlion Cup in Singapore this week.<\/p>\n
A team of 10 rowers departed later yesterday for the event,
\nwhich takes place from tomorrow to Sunday.<\/p>\n
It will be the rowers' first outing since undergoing the
\ncentralized training program. Budiman said they would compete in
\nmore regattas in August.<\/p>\n
He predicted his team would dominate the competition thanks to
\nthe absence of the continent's rowing powerhouses China, South
\nKorea and Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Hindarto asked the national rowing team to take full
\nadvantage of the tryout to build their belief in themselves.<\/p>\n
"Many of our athletes have failed to win in international
\ncompetitions because they lack self-confidence."<\/p>\n
Indonesia has named rowing as one of the sports it will
\ncompete in at the Asian Games in Bangkok in December. (emf)<\/p>",
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