Sepak Takraw body eyes two SEA Games gold medals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Sepak Takraw Association expects
\ntwo gold medals from the women's regu (squad of three teams) at
\nthe 19th Southeast Asian Games here next year.<\/p>\n
Beddu Amang, the association's chairman, said yesterday that
\nthe association is aiming for two silvers from the men's regu.<\/p>\n
The decentralized training program, in which 36 athletes are
\nparticipating, is scheduled to take place from Nov. 20, 1996, to
\nJan. 31, 1997, in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and Pekanbaru,
\nRiau.<\/p>\n
The association plans to select 18 of the 36 players in
\nFebruary and send them to Jakarta for a centralized session.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Beddu said that the association expects its team to
\nget through the final of the first Junior Sepak Takraw World
\nChampionship in Bangkok, Thailand.<\/p>\n
"I hope all athletes will stay calm and not to be too nervous
\nduring their matches so they can get to the final," Beddu said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
He also said that all players must prepare both physically and
\nmentally for the championship, which takes place from Nov. 22 to
\nNov. 25.<\/p>\n
Beddu said that based on the team's performances, the
\nassociation is aiming for the silver medal.<\/p>\n
"But Insya Allah (with God's blessing), the team could win the
\ngold, just as the seniors did in Hanoi recently," he said.<\/p>\n
The team is to undergo a preparatory sparring session with the
\nsenior team in Riau for four days. The association's secretary-
\ngeneral, Mannawi, said that the sparring is expected to help the
\njuniors improve their technical and strategic skills.<\/p>\n
Indonesia sees Thailand and Malaysia as its toughest rivals in
\nthe championship.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that the United States of America, Japan,
\nFinland, Australia, China, South Korea, India and Sri Lanka are
\nscheduled to participate in the championship.<\/p>\n
Rowing<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Rowing Association, meanwhile, is calling 200
\nathletes to join the training session at the Jatiluhur dam in
\nPurwakarta, West Java, for the 19th Southeast Asian Games here
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
The association's executive director Soetono Goenadi said
\nyesterday that the association will select 94 of the 200 athletes
\nfor the Games squad.<\/p>\n
Thirty-one watersports gold medals, in rowing, canoeing,
\nkayaking and traditional boat racing, will be up for grabs at the
\nGames.<\/p>\n
Soetono told Antara that the association will not only train
\nthe athletes intensively but also send them abroad for overseas
\nstints. Traditional boat-race athletes are due to take part in
\nthe World Championship in Hong Kong in June 1997.<\/p>\n
"We hope that we can retain our champion's title in the
\ncompetition in Hong Kong," Soetono said, adding that Myanmar is
\nlikely to be Indonesia's strongest challenger. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sepak-takraw-body-eyes-two-sea-games-gold-medals-1447893297",
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