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)