Coach declines to set target in weightlifting
Coach declines to set target in weightlifting
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian weightlifting coach Imron Rosadi
declined to set a target for his two women lifters owing to their
less than prime physical condition after suffering injury and
illness.
Imron said on Tuesday before flying to Sydney that Sri
Indriyani, who is competing in the 48 kilograms division, and
Winarni in the 53 kg were not in prime form for the quadrennial
event in Sydney from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1.
"What is my concern now is how to restore their physical and
mental condition within only 10 days. I don't want to speak about
target regarding their form. It's still too early," said Imron,
who runs his own weightlifting and powerlifting club in
Pringsewu, Lampung.
Sri injured her right ankle two weeks ago during training in
Lampung. Earlier in March, she underwent surgery on her right
knee and had to rest for nearly one month.
Winarni was hospitalized with typhoid for three days in March
and was unable to train for three weeks. Winarni has had a hip
injury since May 1999.
The National Sports Council (KONI) has targeted weightlifting
to win a bronze, hopefully from the 48 kg division in which Sri
and Lisa Rumbewas, who is coached by Lukman, will compete.
"KONI has never spoken to me about a target. It knows that I
have never set any target. It can't just refer to our achievement
in the World Championships in Athens 11 months ago, which also
served as an Olympics qualification.
"Many countries have prepared themselves better, especially
with women's weightlifting featuring for the first time in the
Olympics. They can consider the results in the championships only
as a recommendation, but not as a yardstick to set a target for
us."
Indonesia won a gold and two silvers at the championships,
which earned it three Olympics berths.
Imron admitted he was extremely doubtful, in his capability as
coach, about bringing home a bronze medal.
"This is a very noble mission. The country really needs our
high achievement at the moment. But I'm not sure I can accomplish
it due to my athletes' condition."
Weightlifting features from Sept. 16 to Sept. 26 at the Sydney
Convention Center in Darling Harbour.
Slight chance
Sri said she had a slight chance in the Olympics despite
suffering a series of injuries.
"I can't promise you anything. One thing I know is that I will
try my best," she said, adding that she trained randomly for the
past 10 days and had physiotherapy and foot massages.
"After the injury, I can only lift 82 kilos in snatch and 105
kilos in clean and jerk. Previously, I lifted up to 90 kilos in
snatch and 112 kilos in clean and jerk," she said.
In last month's evaluation, Sri managed to lift 85.5 kg in
snatch and 112 kg in clean and jerk to produce a total lift of
197.5 kg, equaling the world record created by Liu Xiuhua of
China at the World Weightlifting Championships in Montreal in
June.
"I was two kilograms overweight last month. Now I'm back to
weighing 50 kilos," the 21 year old said.
Sri said Lisa could prove a tough contender for her besides
other well-known lifters from strong countries including China,
Bulgaria, Japan, India, Thailand and Chinese Taipei.
"I observed their strength when competing in Athens."
Carmen Jahja, the Indonesian contingent medical doctor, said
Sri could still compete in the event by taping her ankle.
"Although she has not fully recovered, she still can compete
by taping her ankle. It won't lessen her chance to win. But if
she injures her knee again, I don't know what we'll do," she
said. (ivy/yan)