Athletics trio seek Asiad slots

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)