Batam to host diving competition

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Sub-Aquatic Association (POSSI) expects more than 144 divers and finswimmers to take part in the inaugural Asian Open Water Finswimming and Underwater Orientation Competition to be held on Batam island in Riau province.

The competition will be held on June 21 and June 22 and will have nine events.

"The current trend is to have the competition in a swimming pool as a goal to include the sport in the Olympics," POSSI chairman Djoko Pramono told a media conference on Wednesday.

"Indonesia, however, has so many beautiful diving spots and we feel it's time for us to return to natural surroundings," he said.

Athletes from Kazakhstan, South Korea and Vietnam have confirmed their participation.

Finswimming will be staged at the 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam. -- JP