37 nations set for Shotokan c'ships
37 nations set for Shotokan c'ships
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty seven countries have confirmed their
participation in the seventh World Shotokan Karate-do
International Federation (SKIP) championships next month in Nusa
Dua, Bali.
The organizing committee chairman, Efjuno Tando, said on
Tuesday that the organizers were still waiting for confirmation
from 22 other countries to compete in the event.
Tando expressed worry regarding complaints from some countries
on new regulations stating that each country could only field
three persons in the 75kgs division.
"Some countries including Switzerland and Japan have
complained about this. Switzerland had prepared seven athletes
and urged us to cancel the regulation, while Japan protested
because its athletes had been undergoing diets to lose weight.
Finally we decided not to limit the number of participants in the
division," he said.
"Most competitors in the division come from Europe and
America. Asian athletes very rarely compete in that class."
Tando, who is also chairman of the Inkado karate school, said
Indonesia would have a slight chance in the +75kgs division but a
wide opportunity in the -75kgs and -65kgs divisions.
"I have not given them any target. They are undergoing a
centralized training program. They have performed very well in
the individual and team kata. Hopefully our athletes can win
medals in both events."
Inkado staged a two-day selection last weekend and picked 28
names to represent the country in the championships. They will
compete in the men's individual kata, men's team kata, men's
-65kgs kumite, men's -75kgs kumite, men's +75kgs kumite, women's
-60kgs kumite and women's +60kgs kumite.
Tando was optimistic that Aswan Ali would be able to repeat
his success in the 1994 championships in Yokohama, Japan, where
he grabbed the gold in the men's individual kata. But Aswan
failed to win his second gold in the 1997 championships in Milan,
Italy, and ended up finishing in fourth place.
Tando named France, Italy, Japan and Switzerland as favorites.
Speaking on the preparations, Tando said Inkado was still
facing financial problems and spent a total of US$30,000 just to
make tribunes and five arenas at the Sheraton Nusa Indah Resort.
Tando then met with the Japanese ambassador to Indonesia,
Takao Kawakami, asking for help. Kawakami contacted the Jakarta
Japan Club Foundation, requesting their aid, but Tando won't
receive an answer from them until Tuesday.
Another member of the organizers, Fauzi Saidi, expressed
disappointment toward the state minister of tourism and art,
Hidayat Djailani, who did not offer a comment on the upcoming
championships.
"There will be nearly 1,000 athletes worldwide competing in
Bali but the minister doesn't even care to comment on the event,"
he said. (yan)