Archery team hampered by schools and employers

Archery team hampered by schools and employers

JAKARTA (JP): Some schools and employers continue to ignore a
recommendation from the National Sports Council that they grant
leave to athletes called up for the national training program for
the 19th SEA Games, scheduled to take place here in October.

Women's team coach Donald Pandiangan complained that one of
his athletes had had to leave the training program due to school
commitments. Dwi Novita had to return to Palangkaraya, Central
Kalimantan, to take part in her final school examination.

"She can't concentrate on the training because her school
won't allow her to," said Donald, a former national archer.

Sports council chief Wismoyo Arismunandar has urged schools
and universities to grant athletes permission to participate in
the training for the Games.

Eight male archers and five female archers--including Ditto
Rembrant, Yulianto, Hendra Setiawan, Purnama Pandiangan, Dahliana
and Dwi Purwanti--are taking part in the training.

The council hopes to have solved all technical and
administrative problems by March 1 in order ensure that the
training program runs smoothly. Indonesia is aiming to take the
overall title from Thailand in October.

At the last games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Indonesian archers
won two golds, one silver and two bronzes.

Udi Harsono, the archery training director, complained that
the training program, which began on Nov. 25, was being hampered
by a shortage of equipment.

"Ideally, each athlete should receive Rp 2.5 million
(US$1,045) to purchase equipment for practice during the training
period, but the National Sports Council could only afford Rp
350,000," he said at the training center in Cinere, South
Jakarta, on Tuesday.

Udi said that the archery team's official sponsors, the BCA
and Danamon banks, have so far not assisted them with equipment.

"I think communication between the sponsors, the council and
the Indonesian Archery Association hasn't been great. Perhaps the
sponsors are not very interested because the council appointed
them to help," Udi said.

Antara reported that an Archery Association official who
contacted the two banks was told that they were "not able" to
sponsor the team. (yan)