Construction work hampers shooting training program
JAKARTA (JP): The SEA Games shooting team has stopped training at the Senayan range because the athletes village underground parking lot is being built next to it.
Anthony Sunarjo, the secretary-general of the Indonesian Shooting and Hunting Association, said that part of the range would have to be torn down during construction of the car park. Construction would also disrupt the concentration of those training at the range.
The association is sending the team to train at the Armed Forces' range in Cilodong, near Bogor, and at other venues which are below international standard.
"It really disturbs our training program. Two months (for construction) is a long time. If we want to stop Thailand's domination, our athletes must get used to the venue," Anthony said.
After the parking lot has been built, the 40-bay 50-meter range will be rebuilt. The range, which is used for small-bore triple, small-bore rifle and free pistol, will be the 19th SEA Games shooting venue.
The parking lot is expected to be completed by the end of May.
The Games consortium, chaired by President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, is building an athletes village to accommodate about 5,000 athletes during the Games. One of the village's 40-story buildings will contain a five-star hotel after the Games.
Anthony said the parking lot could be finished on time. "If it takes more time, training would not go smoothly."
"The reinstallation of equipment, if it's inaccurate, can disturb training. I hope we won't have problems with reinstallation," he said.
The International Shooting Federation has checked the venue twice and stated that it meets international standards.
China tour
The Games team shooting director Sita Razni said 12 athletes would train for two months in Beijing and Shanghai.
"We'll send eight running-target male and female athletes and four-double trap female shooters," she said.
"We chose to go to China because the Asian and world champions are from that country," she added.
Two Chinese coaches, Hao Yin and Li Wei Kuang, and a local coach will accompany the athletes.
Rita said the association would select its Games main squad soon.
"From April 19 to April 26, we'll send air-rifle and air- pistol athletes to the Minister of Defense and Security Cup. Hopefully we can decide the main squad from the Cup's results," she said.
Rivals
Games team training director Djoko Pramono told Antara that Indonesia had no new information on Thailand's squad.
"It really worries us because we can't observe our rival's strength. We can't even study their strength in some sports, which supposedly belong to us," he said.
"Although I have been informed about other countries' strengths from our embassies, frankly I'm still worried that our domination in some sports, like wrestling and fencing, can be broken," he said.
Djoko urged sports organizations to send only their second string squads to open tournaments so that the Games team's athletes could not be observed.
"If we send our main squad to an open tournament, which is usually participated in by ASEAN countries, our strength will be studied," he said.
The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association will send 11 athletes to Australia on April 10 for the Canberra marathon, and to Bangkok for the Thailand Open from April 22 to April 24.
Ethel Hudson, Eduardus Nabunome and Suyono will compete in the Canberra marathon, while other eight athletes will compete at the Thailand Open," said Tigor Tanjung, the Games team athletics director.
The eight athletes to compete in Bangkok are Abdul Manan, Aria Yumaiwa, Cakra Hadi Mulya, Engelberth Waiyai, Ismail Sroyer, Ong Kok Him, Herman Balagaise and Rumini. (yan)