4 sports yet to start SEA Games training

JAKARTA (JP): Aware of the limited time remaining to groom athletes for the SEA Games here next year, the National Sports Council is concerned that four sports organizations have yet to start their decentralized training programs.

Joko Pramono, the training director, said yesterday that three organizations - tennis, basketball and soccer - have promised to start their programs in January.

"But after I checked the programs myself I found that table tennis has also yet to start its program. I don't like being deceived."

He said that 70 percent of the 34 participating sports have begun their programs and the four above sports would do so early next year.

Joko also promised to approach all sports associations to help solve their problems calling on athletes.

"I understand that not all parties are eager to support the programs. They have to deal with the athletes' study and work schedules," he said.

The council will not limit the time to conduct the program because it will result in punishment if the organizations break their promises.

"We should avoid giving punishment for a while," he said.

Fasting

Joko said that he would encourage Moslem athletes, who soon enter the fasting month of Ramadhan, to keep practicing.

"We should motivate them to keep practicing instead of delaying their training sessions," he said.

Some cyclists and weightlifters will not undertake their fasting obligation.

"It's impossible for them to conduct the fasting because otherwise their training will suffer," said coach Endang Subagyo, as quoted by Antara.

Since November, 50 riders have joined the road race program in Yogyakarta, the track sessions in Subang, West Java, and mountain bike training in Malang, East Java.

From December to March, athletes' workouts are concentrating on basic and strength endurance.

Joko said that 34 foreign and 115 national coaches have been contracted by the council.

"There are four sports bodies which have asked for more foreign coaches," he said without mentioning them by name.

Indonesia is to send 600 athletes to the Games, which is scheduled to be staged from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

Joko said that he would talk to the Indonesian Tennis Association for not selecting the country's former number one player Benny Wijaya as a member of the squad.

"But I believe that the association has a strong reason for not picking him," he said. (yan)