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)