Deadline set for start of training programs for SEAG

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) urged sports organizations to start their training programs by May 7 in preparation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.

Moch. Hindarto, KONI's official in charge of athletes development, said the council would call sports organizations on Wednesday to explain their detailed preparations.

"Sports organizations have to start their training on May 7 at the latest because they have to have, at least, three months of training before competing in the SEA Games, which will start on Aug. 7," he said.

"Based on earlier discussions, we concluded that training programs that are not at least three months long do not increase the athletes' physical, mental or technical conditions," he said.

Hindarto said KONI would assist sports organizations which had not yet prepared their training programs.

"KONI will provide training programs for organizations which have yet to prepare and start their programs. We will also review programs to make sure that our athletes are ready to compete in SEA Games," he said.

KONI has been grooming 534 athletes in 20 sports for the Games. It will invite only the top athletes to join the centralized training program here in early June. They will represent the country at the biennial SEA Games.

Each sports association will evaluate athletes based on their physical endurance and skills during the training period, picking the best candidates for the Games based on these evaluations.

State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono has vowed to financially assist KONI by providing Rp 15 billion (US$1.7 million) for the training programs.

The SEA Games, to be hosted by Brunei Darussalam for the first time, will be held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 12 and will offer 235 gold medals in 21 sports.

Indonesia will compete in 20 sports: badminton, basketball, billiards and snooker, bowling, boxing, cycling, soccer, golf, hockey, karate, pencak silat martial arts, sepak takraw, shooting, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field and traditional boat racing.

Indonesia aims to retain its overall title in the Games after winning the title back from Thailand at the 1997 Games here. (ivy)