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)