Athletes for Asiad to be selected from KASAD Cup
Athletes for Asiad to be selected from KASAD Cup
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Karate-do Federation is to use
the fifth KASAD (Army Chief of Staff) Cup as the first selection
phase for the 13th Asian Games squad.
The federation's secretary-general, Hendarji, told a media
conference yesterday that the winners of each class in the
competition -- which is the national championships -- would
automatically join the national long-term training program.
"The federation's provincial branches have groomed their
athletes to compete at the championships since January. The
federation will continue its centralized training after the
championships," said Hendarji, who is also the championships
organizing committee chairman.
The championships is scheduled to take place at the Senayan
indoor tennis stadium from Apr. 3 to Apr. 5,
The federation plans to send its karatekas to the Women's
world championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in July and to the World
Championships in Brazilia in October, which will be the final
selection for the Asiad squad.
Hendarji said the winners of the Asian Union Karate
Organization championships in Macau last November were the most
likely Asiad gold medalists.
Indonesia won two golds from Nurosi Nurasjati in the women's
under 48kgs kumite and Nilawati Daud in the women's under 60kgs
kumite. It also won three silvers -- Umar Syarif in the men's
over 80 kgs kumite, Omita Olga Ompi in the women's kata
individual and the women's kata team events -- and five bronzes.
Hendarji said they would be top seeded at the national
championships, which has been delayed from March to April due to
the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly next
week. The championships will feature 17 classes.
"Only the winners will join the training due to the country's
economic collapse. But we'll invite the runners-up as sparring
partners," Hendarji said.
He added he was optimistic that the federation would be able
to complete all its programs despite the monetary crisis but
declined to mention the federation's Asiad training budget. (yan)