C. Java grooms 18 karatekas for PON

SEMARANG (JP): The chairman of the Central Java chapter of the Indonesian Karate-do Federation (FORKI), Bibit Waluyo, said on Wednesday the province was training 18 karatekas to compete in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya next year.

"The Central Java Sports Council has targeted two gold medals in the quadrennial event, but we aim to win four," he said.

The 18 karatekas -- including Sischa Widiastuti, Aryani Cipta Dewi, Andi Setyawan, Gunawan, Gautama Subagyo, Joko Mulyono and Andriyansah -- qualified after competing in a prequalification tournament in Jakarta in September.

Bibit named Jakarta, East Java and West Java as the toughest competition his athletes faced at PON. (har)