Centralized training for Asiad delayed

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's medal-winning in the Asian Games this December may fall below expectation because some sports organizations failed to kick off their respective centralized training program on schedule, a sports official warned yesterday.

The training director of the country's Games team, Albert Paruntu, said some sports bodies had not even completed their preparations for their centralized training.

"I'm very disappointed by their sluggish behavior. I don't know whether they are doing this because they know their chances of winning medals are slim. Most of them haven't spoken to me yet," he said.

He said some sports bodies' officials requested delaying their training programs pending completion of venues for the programs and arrival of their athletes.

Albert refused to disclose which sports organizations he was talking about, but promised to find out what was wrong with them.

"We have reported them to the National Sports Council and asked it to remind them (of their obligations)," he said.

The council ordered 21 sports bodies whose athletes were recruited for the Asiad to begin their centralized training early last month after completing local training programs. The sports include track and field, soccer, swimming, shooting, rowing and canoeing, badminton, tennis and volleyball.

"Athletes from quantitative sports like rowing, track and field, swimming and shooting always need longer training stints than other athletes," Albert said.

He dismissed reports that financial woes were responsible for delaying the start of the training programs.

"They have pledged before the sports council chairman to provide half of the expenses needed for the centralized training program," he said.

The deputy head of the sport council's athletes development body, Muhammad Hindarto, said that the All-Indonesia Soccer Federation was one of the unpunctual sports bodies.

Hindarto said the delay was inevitable because most of the players selected were at present playing for their clubs in the Indonesian league. The league ends on July 15.

"I don't think it is a serious matter. The competitions themselves can serve as training as well, can't they?" Hindarto said.

He said some other sports organizations, including the amateur boxing association, were negotiating with other parties about venues for their training programs.

"The boxing camp in Sentul is said to be strategic but the boxing body has to pay too much for an outdoor boxing arena," Hindarto said.

He said the Sentul training center near Bogor, West Java, cost the boxing body Rp 27 million (US$3,100) per month, a relatively steep price in the current financial climate.

"That's why the boxing body is looking for a more comfortable place at a more affordable price," Hindarto said. (emf)