Cash problem may deter Oka's chance
Cash problem may deter Oka's chance
JAKARTA (JP): Financial shortage may spoil national windsurfer
Oka Sulaksana's chance of a medal in the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney in September.
The Indonesian Yachting and Windsurfing Association (Porlasi)
official in charge of athletes development, Raymond Kotambunan,
said on Monday Oka needed around Rp 700 million (US$94,000) to
hire a foreign coach, to compete in a series of windsurfing
competitions in Europe to improve his world rankings and to live
in Sydney for three months for climatic adjustment ahead of the
Olympics.
He said Oka ranked 81st in the world after competing in four
out of seven competitions in the last two years.
"If he can improve his world ranking and join the world's top
30, he has a greater chance of medals in the Olympics. He can
improve his ranking if he competes in Europe, because about 70
percent of the world's top 30 windsurfers will test their skills
there before competing in the Olympics," he said.
The competitions will be held from April to June in Spain,
French, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany. Earlier, Oka is
scheduled to compete in the World Windsurfing Championships in
Argentina from Feb. 10 to Feb. 20.
Oka, the 1998 Asian Games gold medalist in the IMCO heavy
division in Thailand, finished 13th in his Olympic debut in
Atlanta, Georgia.
Raymond said that Oka would compete in the 15th National Games
(PON) in Surabaya, East Java, should he miss the European
competition series, but he added that staying in Sydney for
climatic adjustment was a must for Oka.
"There are no major competitions from July to September so
that top windsurfers can spend time in Sydney. Oka must follow
this practice because he needs to adjust himself to the local
climate and waves," he said.
He said that Porlasi had asked for financial support from the
National Sports Council (KONI) but it had yet to respond. "We are
waiting for solutions to our plight."
He said Oka found his own sponsors to fund his prequalifying
round for the Olympics last year: A group of foreign
businesspeople, led by an Australian national called Mark
Keating, who live in Oka's homeland of Bali
He said Oka was now training using a physical program devised
by world-class windsurfing coach Amith Inbar of Israel, who
supervised Oka's training when he competed in the World
Championships in Noumea, New Caledonia, last November.
Porlasi has delayed its plan to hire the coach because it can
not afford to pay his fees of $1,500 a week. Raymond said that
Oka was now training with local coaches.
Separately, Antara reported that Oka won the fun race division
at the three-day Aerowisata Windsurfing Challenge (AWC) 2000 at
Semawang beach in Sanur, Bali, which ended on Saturday.
Second was Chua Rickson of Singapore, followed by Ikeda
Yoshitaka of Japan. Australian top windsurfer, Radis Robbie,
could only finish tenth.(ivy)