Deadline set for start of training programs for SEAG

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)