Albert Paruntu named Asiad training director

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, has appointed Albert Paruntu, an official of the Indonesia Karatedo Federation, as the country's 13th Asian Games training director.

Wismoyo said after a meeting Wednesday that he chose Albert because the latter had proven his ability to command a team during his career in the Army.

Albert, a brigadier-general, is considered a responsible person with leadership skills and a high capacity to mobilize people.

"Obviously, he's very active and loves sports," Wismoyo said.

The council's athletes development deputy, M. Hindarto, is to be Albert's deputy.

The council has announced athletes from 22 sports will represent the country at the Asiad in Bangkok next December.

The sports are track and field, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, soccer, gymnastics, judo, karate, rowing, sepak takraw, shooting, swimming, tae kwon do, tennis, volleyball, weight lifting, wrestling, wushu and yachting.

The council plans to stage a 10-month decentralized training scheme, financed and managed by each sports organization, before all the athletes come together for three months of centralized training here, which will be financed by the country.

Wismoyo said Indonesian sportsmen and women must retain their disciplined attitude after winning back the overall title at the 19th SEA Games here in October.

"They have to be disciplined. Organizations without discipline will never reach their goals or do well. An undisciplined attitude means losing and failure," he said.

Kompas reported the council had invited all sports organizations to a meeting in Cipayung, West Java, from Tuesday to yesterday but five of them did not attend.

They were the Indonesian Soccer Association, the Indonesian Table tennis Association, the Indonesian Weight lifting, Power lifting and Body building Association, the Indonesian Swimming Association and the Indonesian Shooting and Hunting Association. (yan)