Council eases criteria for Olympics

Council eases criteria for Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council will ease the
selection system for the Atlanta Olympics Games by allowing
athletes with prospects of breaking Southeast Asian Games records
to go to the world's biggest sporting meet.

The vice-chairman of the council, Arie Sudewo, said yesterday
that the SEA Games are tough enough to preselect deserving
athletes for the Olympics.

Arie was commenting on President Soeharto's call on the
council to field only potential medal winners in the centennial
Olympic Games this July.

"Potential does not mean to actually win, but also to pose a
tough challenge. Our athletes may lose, but they'll finish very
close to the medalists," Arie said.

Arie said that if Soeharto's advice is taken literally, only
badminton players would be eligible for the Olympics. The
nation's shuttlers gave the country two golds in the Barcelona
Olympics in 1992 and will enter Atlanta as strong favorites to
win again.

Arie said the drawing up of criteria by the council for
national athletes qualified for Atlanta is underway, but he made
sure that potential medal winners and SEA Games record breakers
would form the national Olympic team.

The council officially kicked off the centralized training
program for the Olympics on March 1 and is expected to name its
Olympians by June.

Indonesia entered 50 athletes in 11 events in Barcelona. Only
Badminton brought it any medals.

The council announced last month that badminton, boxing,
tennis and archery topped its nomination list for Atlanta.
Athletes from the sports of weight lifting, canoeing, beach
volleyball, table tennis, track and field, cycling and fencing
might also go, but their prospects won't be bright.

Indonesia is also trying to qualify for wildcard entry in judo
and shooting.

Also yesterday, the Indonesian Archery Association announced
that it would start its training program for the Olympics this
week. The trio of Nurfitriyana, Dahliana and Hamdiah, who won a
bronze in the World Championships here last year, have been
called up for the Olympics, along with Purnama Pandiangan,
Elizabeth and Dwi Purwanti.

New training director Andi Suhendro said that the association
would pick three of them for the Olympic Grand Prix, a test
tournament for the Atlanta Olympics, next month as the first try-
out.

Andi said that the Olympic team will be decided after two
simulation matches in the Jakarta Open and a tournament either in
Germany or Slovenia this June.

Meanwhile, executive chairman of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing
Association, Imron ZS, said that the five boxers who qualify for
the Olympics would undergo a one-month training stint at
Cijantung, East Jakarta, starting March 10th.

Light flyweight Lapaene Masara, flyweight Hermensen Ballo,
featherweight Nemo Bahari, light middleweight Hendrik
Simangunsong and middleweight Pino Bahari will continue their
program in Uzbekistan and Cuba. (amd)