Show jumping team upbeat to win medals<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Host nations for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games have the
\nright to select the events in competition for the biennial sports
\ngathering -- and often pad the roster with sports in which their
\nathletes excel.<\/p>\n
The Philippines, which will host this year's Games on Nov. 27-
\nDec. 5, chose to limit equestrian events to show jumping
\nindividual and team competitions, with no place for dressage,
\nendurance and eventing.<\/p>\n
\"It is because the Philippines only has athletes in show
\njumping but no athletes in other divisions,\" said SEA Games
\nequestrian manager Otto Satyawan R on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Ruled out of the medal hunt is top dressager Larasati Gading,
\nbut the Equestrian Commission of Indonesia (ECI) believes that
\nits show jumpers have a strong chance against competitors from
\nMalaysia and the host.<\/p>\n
\"I am sure that we will get medals,\" Otto said. \"But we will
\nbe surer about the types of the medals after we finish our
\nparticipation in the World Cup series in Manila from Nov. 18 and
\nNov. 20, with other ASEAN countries also taking part.\"<\/p>\n
The ECI, which is a division under the auspices of the
\nIndonesian Equestrian Association (Pordasi), has selected five
\nathletes for the World Cup series, followed by the 2005 SEA
\nGames.<\/p>\n
On the team are Kurniadi Mustopo, 25, Budi Tulodo, 38, Andri
\nPrasetyo, 21, Dadan Suhendar, 28, and Fesol Said Mubarok, 20.<\/p>\n
Kurniadi will ride Sidoal de Genetro, Budi has Dark Mellow,
\nAndri is with Gonzo, Dadan rides Dominggo and Fesol with Canial.<\/p>\n
\"Kurniadi and his horse have the biggest chance to win medals
\nfor Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Kurniadi won gold in the 2004 National Games in Palembang in
\nindividual show jumping and bronze in the team competition.<\/p>\n
Andri won gold in team show jumping, while Budi grabbed silver
\nin team show jumping.<\/p>\n
The team is training at the national equestrian training
\ncenter in Cinere, West Java, south of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We practice every day to sharpen our focus, increase horse
\nstrength, except on Monday,\" Otto, who is also an endurance
\nrider, said.<\/p>",
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