Two players dropped from national water polo team<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has dropped two regular players from
\nits water polo team for December's Southeast Asian Games in
\nChiang Mai, Thailand.<\/p>\n
Sugandhi and Ekram Ali were sidelined following their final
\ntry out in the Asian Championship in Bangkok two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
National coach Raja Nasution said yesterday that Sugandhi
\nwould not join the team due a fractured hand. Ekram failed to
\npass the fitness test.<\/p>\n
"We have decided to call Go Julius and Teuku Radek Iskandar as
\nsubstitutes," said Raja, who is also the national women's
\nswimming coach. Indonesian top swimmers Elfira Rosa, Elsa Manora
\nand Maya Masita are products of their father Raja's coaching
\nstint.<\/p>\n
Raja said the two absentees wouldn't affect the team's aim of
\ngetting the silver. "There is only a small modification in our
\nteam. We are out to grab at least the silver," he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia won the bronze in the 1993 SEA Games in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Raja also asked the National Sports Council to urge the 18th
\nSEA Games Organizing Committee to select neutral referees.<\/p>\n
"I learned from the Asian Championship that Chinese referees
\nfavored the host team only because they are also coaching home
\nplayers," Raja complained.<\/p>\n
"We need truly neutral referees. Neutral means to have no
\ncommitment at all with a competing team," Raja said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia finished fifth from the bottom at the 23 team Asian
\nwater polo meet. It crashed to SEA Games champion Singapore 10-2
\nand to host Thailand 6-5. Indonesia salvaged some pride by
\nbeating Vietnam 21-7.<\/p>\n
It was the first international appearance of Raja's men since
\nthey took the bronze in the 1993 SEA Games.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, the National Sports Council scheduled a public
\nhearing for Nov. 4. "We want to hear what people have to say
\nabout our preparations for the SEA Games," the council's
\nspokesman, Ishadi, said.<\/p>\n
"We also want them to criticize us and help us find solution
\nto the problems we are facing in developing national sports," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Sports figures are also expected to attend the gathering, the
\nthird hosted by the council. (amd)<\/p>",
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