Asiad hopefuls enter KASAD Cup

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)