Athletics trio seek Asiad slots

JAKARTA (JP): Tersiana Riwu Rohi, Ni Nyoman Rai and Suyono have something to prove in the Brunei Open track and field tournament next week if they want to qualify for the 13th Asian Games in December.

"We will consider including them in the national team for the Asiad, provided they excel at the Brunei Open," national team training director Mochamad Hindarto said as quoted by Antara on Monday.

He was commenting on the Indonesian Amateur Track and Field Association's bid to win three more places in the national squad following the inclusion of women's long-distance runners Ruwiyati and Supriati Sutono.

"Basically we will only send the best athletes to the games. With around two weeks left before the deadline for registration, everybody is trying to keep his or her chance of representing the country at the Asiad alive," Hindarto said.

The National Sports Council received the names of 132 athletes from 19 sports during preliminary registration for the quadrennial event last month.

"We believe that both Ruwiyati and Supriati deserve places in the team because they are the only track and field athletes to have been rated potential medal winners at the games so far," said Hindarto.

The national track and field body has been grooming women's walker Tersiana, men's marathon runner Suyono and women's triple jumper Nyoman, along with Ruwiyati and Supriati, who both won gold medals in record breaking times at the Southeast Asian Games here last year.

Indonesia is gunning for six golds, 11 silvers and 13 bronzes in the upcoming Asiad, which will be held in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20. (amd)