C. Java eyes five wushu golds in PON

SEMARANG (JP): Central Java wushu athletes are eying at least five golds in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya, East Java, in June.

"In my estimation, our athletes can earn seven golds. Five golds are the minimum target," team manager Arie Permadi said on Wednesday.

He said two golds were expected in the SanShou event and another three from Taulo. The men's athletes are Arif Harsoyo, Chris Jhon, Arthur Rambing, Sonny Rambing, Gunawan Wijaya, Sigit Santosa and Niko Kosay (SanShou) and Seno, Denny Santosa, Sutantyo, Eko Saphuwan, Arif Susanto, Haryono and Antonius (Taulo).

The women's team consists of A.M. Megawati, Meliany Tirta, Diah Kusuma, Soni Sulanda and Ida Royani.

Arie said the teams would face tough challenges from wushu athletes from Jakarta, East Java and North Sumatra, "but we are optimistic that we can win the matches".

He also hoped the Indonesian Wushu Association (WI) could select skilled and unbiased referees.

"What I'm afraid of is not our opponents, but biased referees," he said.(har)