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Sat, 28 Feb 1998

JP/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)