Softball body wants a clean-sweep in SEAG<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia Amateur Baseball and Softball
\nFederation has set its sights on making a clean-sweep of the two
\ngold medals in softball at the 19th Southeast Asian Games here
\nnext year.<\/p>\n
Doedie Gambiro, the federation's head of softball development,
\nsaid yesterday that to achieve this Indonesia would have to beat
\nthe Philippines, the region's most powerful softball playing
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"We often manage to advance to the finals only to lose to the
\nformidable Philippines,\" Doedie said during a softball seminar at
\nAtma Jaya University.<\/p>\n
Softball has been included again as a medal event in the SEA
\nGames after it was excluded from the 1991 Manila Games.<\/p>\n
Doedie said although the target seemed \"too ambitious\" he was
\noptimistic Indonesia could do it. \"This was mainly based on the
\nathletes' performances in the last National Games.\"<\/p>\n
The federation has picked 38 male and 32 female athletes to
\nparticipate in a decentralized training program. Players from
\nJakarta and West Java are likely to form the nucleus of the men's
\nand women's teams.<\/p>\n
The first selection trial is next month when 24 men and 24
\nwomen will be chosen.<\/p>\n
\"The selection trial will last six days,\" Doedie said.<\/p>\n
The final selection trial will be in August and 17 men and 17
\nwomen will be chosen to don the national colors at the Games.<\/p>\n
Doedie said the federation plans to send both teams to take
\npart in January's New Zealand Open.<\/p>\n
They will also participate in the Arafura Games in May before
\ngoing to Canada.<\/p>\n
\"We've invited a technical consultant from China, Li Min Kwan
\nto oversee the training sessions. Li was instrumental in China's
\nsuccess in winning the silver medal in men's softball at the
\nAtlanta Olympics,\" Doedie said.<\/p>\n
Doedie said that after returning home from Canada, the
\nfederation was going to hire a foreign pitcher, from Australia or
\nNew Zealand, to train improve Indonesia's batting. (yan)<\/p>",
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