Asiad hopefuls enter KASAD Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Four of the nations top karate experts will face their first test before the Asian Games when they compete in the fifth KASAD (Army Chief of Staff) Cup to be held in the Senayan indoor tennis stadium starting from tomorrow.

Secretary-general of the Indonesian Karate Federation Hendarji said yesterday that Nurosi Nurasjati, Nilawati Daud, Omita Olga Ompi and Umar Syarif were the favorites in their respective divisions as a result of recent victories in the Asian Union Karate Federation tournament in Macau.

A total of 17 gold medals are up for grabs in the annual KASAD Cup.

Nurosi will compete in the women's 48 kilogram division, Nilawati in the women's under 60 kg division and Umar in the men's over 80 kg division. The three are kumite (fight) specialists.

Omita is the red-hot favorite in the woman's individual kata (martial art performance). Highlights of her illustrious career include a silver medal in the last Asian Games held four years ago.

Hendarji said the four athletes would get a final warm-up before the Asiad at the women's world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in June and the men's world championships in Brasilia, Brazil, in October. (emf)