Doni promises squash medal at SEA Games

Doni promises squash medal at SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): Newcomer Doni Manik wants to surprise everyone
at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next
month by surpassing the target set by the Indonesian Squash
Association (PSI) to obtain a bronze in the men's team event.

"I want to give a surprising performance in the team event. I
don't want everybody to think that squash fails to contribute
medals," said the 21-year-old player.

Doni expressed confidence that he could earn more than a
bronze in his international debut.

"If I try hard enough, I'm sure I can do it. I don't want to
lose my fighting spirit before competing," he said, adding that a
shortage of funds at the PSI had meant he had not benefited from
an overseas training stint.

Born in Medan, North Sumatra on July 27, 1978, Doni dreamed of
becoming a professional squash player.

"I wished to play in international tournaments. The SEA Games
will be my first international performance," he said.

The third child of Ahmad Manik and the late Tohe Hasugian's
brood of five started practicing squash when he was 17. Before
this he played tennis; his switch in 1995 came about after his
tennis game failed to improve.

Doni performed in several local championships and in 1997 he
won the national championships in his hometown and was nominated
as best player.

He was lucky enough to obtain an individual sponsorship from
property businessman Hadi Suratman, who was interested in
developing the talents of the young player fresh from winning the
senior-class championships.

But the sponsorship deal forced Doni to choose between two
options: his studies or a career. Hadi also stipulated several
requirements for Doni before he could become an international
player.

"He asked me to choose between studying and a career and I
picked the latter. He said I have a talent to become a good
squash player," Doni said, adding that Hadi would discuss
official contracts only if he performed well at the Games.

"My sponsor said that if I have international achievements, I
should not be too worried about finding a job. He also urged me
to concentrate only on squash and not about girls. He said if I'm
a world class player I won't have to worry about girls," Doni
said with a smile.

The sponsor has provided Doni with squash equipment and a
foreign coach to improve his physical fitness.

Doni was called to join the national training program after he
won the Tiara Open tournament in Medan in January 1998. He
defeated two national athletes, both of whom were former SEA
Games squad members.

During the program, Doni has experienced military-style
training.

"I have to do 40 push-ups in one minute and 30 sit-ups in a
minute. I also have to run a minimum 25 times in one minute
around the 180-square meters in the squash stadium complex."

He said he had to sacrifice his bed time for the training.

"We have to be in the squash field before 8:30 a.m. If we fail
to show up, Pak Bambang (national team coach) will come to the
hotel and pour water onto our face," Doni recalled, as a broad
grin spread over his face. "I was the one who was splashed the
most often." (ivy)