4 sports yet to start SEA Games training

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)