Archer body hopes for modest run in Athens

Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta

Given the mediocre performance by its archers in Turkey last week, the Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani) will now be happy if Rina Dewi Puspitasari and Lockonecko make the second round at the Athens Olympics.

Rina failed to advance from the opening round while Lockonecko could not break through into the second round in series two of the international grand prix in Antalya, Turkey, which was held from July 15 until July 19.

The result was similar to their performance in the first series in Wyhl, Germany, in June.

Perpani chief of development Arie Ariotedjo said on Friday the association now only expected its two archers to reach the second round at the Olympics in August.

Rina is currently ranked 51th in the world's women's individual recurve while Lockonecko 64th in the men's category.

Archers from South Korea and China dominate the top 10 nations in the current world standings.

Arie said the grand prix results were a good way to assess the likely strength of the world's best archers in the Olympic Games.

"Of course we hope that (Rina and Lockonecko) can advance further than the second round but archers from South Korea and China will be tough opponents, so we can't expect too much for them to win medals," Arie said.

He said that Lockonecko and Rina had completed a training program in which they shot between 300 and 400 arrows a day in order to stabilize their aim.

"They will need to hone their skills further before going to Athens," Arie said.