Desi's medal hopes in Asian Games look promising
Desi's medal hopes in Asian Games look promising
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Pole vaulter Ni Putu Desi Margasari's prospects of winning a
medal in the Asian Games looked more promising after she won a
bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championship currently under
way in Colombo, Sri Lanka, a top official said.
Desi scored a mark of 4.10 meters on the weekend to finish
third behind eventual winner Gao Shuying of China and Masumi Ono
of Japan.
"I believe Desi will be able to repeat her Colombo performance
at the Asian Games; 4.10 meters is competitive enough for her to
contend the bronze," secretary-general of the Indonesian Amateur
Athletics Association (PASI) Tigor Tanjung told The Jakarta Post.
Tigor said that Desi's performance at the Asian meet also
proved that she warranted her place in the Indonesian sporting
delegation for the Asian Games, which will be held in Busan,
South Korea, from Sept. 29 through Oct. 14.
He said that Desi's status at the training center was
reinstated on Aug. 6, thanks to her winning run at the National
Athletics Championship, in which she managed to improve on her
own mark.
Desi was initially removed from the training program in July
following a series of dismal runs during tryouts, which indicated
that she would be unable to live up to the required mark set by
the National Sports Council (KONI).
But since then she has made a comeback and set a national
record of 4.05 meters at the Jakarta meet early this month before
improving the record to 4.10 meters in Colombo.
"Desi now is full of confidence. She must concentrate on
training over the next month and beware of possible injury," said
Tigor, who accompanied the three-strong Indonesian track and
field team to Colombo.
The other two were Tertiana Triwurohi in the women's 20
kilometers walk and Ahmad Sakeh in the men's 200 meters. Tertiana
only managed fourth place while Sakeh ran short of reaching the
final stage.
PASI has only two hopefuls for the Busan trip. The other is
Yurita Ariani in the hammer throw.
Athletics is one of 20 sports KONI, which is grooming around
100 athletes, plans to take part in at Busan.