Billiards team upbeat about Manila chances

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With billiards offering two more medal events in the 23rd Southeast Asia (SEA) Games than the 12 in Hanoi in 2003, national coaches and players are hopeful of bringing home more than their single gold of two years ago.

Coach Wanda Lanin said the biggest chance for Indonesia, which is participating in all 14 medal events in Manila in November, to win gold was in women's 8-ball and 9-ball events, English billiard, and 3-ball.

In men's 8-ball, 9-ball -- in which Muhamad Junarto secured gold in Hanoi -- and 15-ball events, as well as snooker, the host team is considered the strong favorite.

"That is our calculation. Basically, with two more golds offered in this year's SEA Games, in the women's events, our chance to get more golds is wide open," Wanda said.

"Strong competitors will come from the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Thailand."

Indonesia won one gold, two silvers and three bronzes in the 2003 SEA Games. Two years earlier, Indonesia won two golds and one silver.

Sixteen players -- consisting of 13 men and three women -- have been called up for SEA Games training. They practice from Monday to Friday, with a physical training session from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and technique training from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

A tryout session is held on Saturday.

The Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association (POBSI) also hired Lo Sui, a top coach from Chinese Taipei, and is sending athletes for overseas tryouts as part of its efforts for Manila.

Adam Abdurrahim and Siaw Wieto recently participated in the World Pool Championship, with Adam qualifying for the second round in the 128 player draw. Siaw lost in the first round.

Players will also go to Australia and Chinese Taipei for tryouts later this month.

Women's coach Mirza Muhammad concurred with Wanda about the increased chances to take top honors.

"Desak, Sri and Angel have a chance to win golds," Mirza said, adding their fighting spirit was high.

Wanda highlighted a problem of discipline and focus among the athletes.

"With many competitions held outside the training center, our players always want to participate," he said.

"But we think that it is better to first sharpen the technique in the training."

Adam, a veteran of the squad, said the team was intent on winning at the SEA Games.

"In 2003, we can get gold from 9-ball, so why not this time?"

Physical sessions in the training center program have given him more endurance and confidence in his matches, he added.

His recent results attest to the benefits: Adam was runner up in the fourth series of A Mild Billiard Cup and first in the fifth series.

The 2004 National Games 8-ball silver medalist, Desak, praised the recruitment of Lo.

"He introduces new techniques, but he teaches us in a simple, not complicated, way. I am more confident in my play now."

SEA Games squad

Men
9-ball:Adam Abdurrahim (West Java), Siaw Wieto (Jakarta)
8-ball: Yudarman Kamaruddin (Bali)
15-ball: M. Junarto (Central Java), M. Zulfikri (C. Java)
English billiards: Muslim (Jakarta), Hasan Manfaluti (C. Java)
Snooker: Rudi Sulaeman (Jakarta), Tayumin Teng (Jambi), Bambang
Saputra (Bali), James Lengkang (3-ball), Tan Kong Ang (C.Java)

Women
Sri Wahyuni (Jakarta, 8-ball and 9-ball)
Angeline Magdalena Ticoalu of Jakarta (9-ball)
Desak Raka of Bali (8-ball)