Chinese coaches for RI fencers

Chinese coaches for RI fencers

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Fencing Association (Ikasi) has decided to hire three Chinese coaches in preparation for the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in December.

"We are finalizing our negotiations with the foreign coaches," Ikasi chairman HM Widarsadipradja said on Monday. Ikasi expects to complete the deal before the centralized training center for the 29-strong national team starts early in April.

The Chinese coaches, who come from fencing's three disciplines of saber, foil and epee, each will earn US$1,500 per month.

Widarsadipradja admitted that Ikasi opted to pick the Chinese for economical reasons. "China is the nearest world fencing powerhouse and they don't ask for a high price," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

One of the coaches is Tao Ji Hon, who led the Indonesian fencing team to haul seven out of 10 gold medals in the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. (amd)