Bondan tells officials of squash body to promote the sport

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Squash Association (PSI) chairman Bondan Gunawan has asked his officials to promote the sport across the nation.

Bondan, former acting state secretary and the secretary of government supervision, said he wished the sport was played nationwide by people from all walks of life.

"We must change the conception that squash is played only by the upper level of society. Squash is good for improving endurance," Bondan was quoted by Antara as saying after announcing PSI new officials on Saturday.

He said that the association would stage exhibition matches in various cities.

He also said he would prepare young athletes for national and international sports events. In the short term, he said that he would intensify training for athletes to prepare them for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.

In the 1997 SEA Games here, Indonesia managed to earn three bronzes in the men's singles, men's and women's team. Two years later, Indonesia came home empty-handed.

For next year's Games, Bondan did not set an ambitious target, but has vowed to improve the athletes' achievement.

Bondan was elected PSI chairman for the 2000-2005 term during the association's national congress in Surabaya, East Java, in June.

Bondan is assisted by I Dewa Ketut Sudarsana, Johanes Karsan, Sunarto Hadi Prayitno and Iskandar Andinuhung, who each chair a division.

Henry Supanni is secretary-general and Djoni Irawan is the treasurer. Lily Wisanti Joenoes is in charge of organizational and provincial affairs, former national coach Bambang Gatot Subroto is in charge of technology, research and development, Edwin Joedardjo Joenoes is in charge of fund-raising, Boyke Subroto is in charge of foreign affairs and popular male TV star Ari Sihasale is PSI's spokesman.(ivy)