RI sends three `wushu' athletes to Japan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI)
\nsent off three wushu athletes yesterday to the Tokyo Open, which
\nis seen as a training ground for the upcoming Asian Games in
\nHiroshima next October.<\/p>\n
The three athletes, two men and one woman, have been preparing
\nat the national training center, IGK Manila, the chairperson of
\nthe Wushu Indonesian Association told Antara here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Wushu is a kind of Chinese martial art which uses wooden
\nsticks and swords as weapons.<\/p>\n
The three fighters are Ra Octariana from Jakarta, Zainab from
\nNorth Sumatra and Eko Sapuan from Central Java.<\/p>\n
All of them will perform in most of the tournament's events,
\nincluding those using weapons, Manila said.<\/p>\n
The Tokyo Open will start on Friday.<\/p>\n
"We do not have specific targets for the three-day event," the
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
He added that the three athletes will be moved subsequently to
\nChina for a training session at the Chinese Wushu Institute as
\nfurther preparation for the Beijing Open in early August.<\/p>\n
Cyclists<\/p>\n
Meanwhile ISSI, the national cycling governing body has
\ndecided not to send any of its 17 cyclists abroad prior to the
\nupcoming Asian Games due to lack of time.<\/p>\n
National coach Wahyudi Hidayat was quoted as saying by Antara
\nyesterday that the current training schedule will not allow any
\nforeign tours before the Asiad, which is scheduled to take place
\nin Hiroshima next October.<\/p>\n
"The issue is time, not funding," he said. "Foreign tours are
\nnot essential for our success."<\/p>\n
Wahyudi emphasized that Indonesian cyclists still "have a good
\nchance" to seize a medal in Hiroshima.<\/p>\n
"Heriyanto, one of our top cyclists in the 1,000 meter event,
\nhas a record which is only marginally lower than the Asian
\nrecord," he said.<\/p>\n
The coach said his decision is supported by his Australian
\nconsultant Shayne Bannan. (hdj)<\/p>",
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