Billiards team upbeat about Manila chances

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)