C. Java climbers want 3 golds at PON

SEMARANG (JP): Central Java climbing team are eyeing three golds in the difficulty, individual and team bouldering events in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya, East Java, the chairman of the Central Javanese chapter of the Indonesian Climbing Federation, Udjowolo.

"The target is realistic enough because Central Java climbers have achieved much success in both national and international levels. Yudistira, for example, won the Asia Pacific climbing championship last year," he said on Monday.

Yudistira, along with Sobihin, Fauzan, Wahyu W. and Ari Mulyanto would represent the province at PON which would be held in June, he said.

He said the climbers were now training at three universities here. He said that the sport was less popular now because it was difficult to find financial support.

"But we are not pessimistic. There is a challenge for us to popularize the sport here," Udjowolo said.(har)