Squash body prepares athletes for SEA Games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Squash Association (PSI) is
\npreparing its athletes for the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian
\n(SEA) Games but it is keeping a low profile by saying athletes
\nwere only seeking experience from the event.<\/p>\n
\"There are 16 athletes being groomed for the SEA Games at our
\ntraining center in Jakarta. We'll reduce the total to eight
\nathletes through a national selection in Bandung next January,\"
\nsaid PSI chairman Bondan Gunawan after his installment in his new
\npost on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"We aren't too ambitious at setting high expectations for our
\nathletes. Their participation is only to get more experience.
\nMalaysia is still too strong for us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The PSI official in charge of technology, research and
\ndevelopment, Bambang Gatot Subroto, said Indonesia had a chance
\nto steal a medal.<\/p>\n
\"At least we could grab a silver from the men's team event if
\nwe beat Singapore. It's still impossible for us to beat Malaysia
\nin the finals. About 80 percent of our athletes are junior
\nplayers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We'll have a try-out match with Pakistan as part of our
\npreparation for the Games.\"<\/p>\n
Bambang also said Indonesia would send three juniors to the
\nAsian Championships in Madras, India, next February.<\/p>\n
\"We'll send Juwita to the girls' event. And we'll have to
\nselect two players from Borman Subroto, Junius Lengkong and Agus
\nRante Tasak for the boys' event,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Our players need to have more playing experience. PSI will
\ntry to hold more tournaments here as well as send players to
\ncircuits abroad.\"<\/p>\n
Speaking on his program at a brief ceremony at the State
\nPalace, Bondan -- the former secretary of government supervision
\n-- said PSI would focus on promoting the sport throughout the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"We want to introduce squash at the elementary schools as the
\nbase of our development program. It's also important to explain
\nthat squash isn't such an expensive sport,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"After the SEA Games, PSI will hold exhibitions involving
\ncelebrities, expatriates and international players.\"<\/p>\n
\"We must admit, however, that squash is more popular in
\nCommonwealth countries. No wonder Malaysia and Singapore have
\ngood athletes,\" added Bondan.<\/p>\n
Spokesman Ari Sihasale, who is also an actor, also said
\npromotion was an important thing to popularize squash.<\/p>\n
\"Squash is not an expensive sport to play. You can get
\nequipment of a reasonable quality for only Rp 500,000 (US$53),\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
\"Even if you don't have the money, you can rent the equipment
\nhere at a cheap price.\" (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/squash-body-prepares-athletes-for-sea-games-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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