Dutch visa delay leaves Santia stuck in park

Dutch visa delay leaves Santia stuck in park

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The holdup in obtaining a visa has forced national cyclist
Santia Tri Kusuma to put off for a third time her departure to
train with a team in the Netherlands.

Cycling Association of Indonesia (ISSI) secretary-general
Sofian Ruzian said on Wednesday the visa was scheduled to be
issued on Monday, but the Dutch embassy requested the submission
of more supporting documents.

"We have been asked to submit the letter from Santia's club in
the Netherlands and its financial report," he told reporters at
his office in Bung Karno Stadium Complex in Senayan, Central
Jakarta.

He added that embassy officials promised the issuance of the
visa in two days' time.

Santia, part of the elite Indonesia Awakens (IA) training
program, was initially expected to leave for the Netherlands on
May 12, but could not due to the lack of a visa.

Last week, ISSI said Santia, the winner of a bronze medal in
the 24 km point race at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South
Korea, might be granted the visa by June 7.

Santia has been recruited by women's club R en TC Groenewoud
for three months as part of her training for the 2005 Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games in Manila in November, and the 2006 Asian
Games.

The 24-year-old native of Malang, East Java, will also
participate in a series of races in Europe for the Dutch club.

"The Dutch club became interested in her when it saw her in a
World Cup series competition in Australia," ISSI referees
commission member Eva Catharina, who will accompany Santia to the
Netherlands, said last week.

Sofyan also expected Indonesia would win five golds in the
2005 SEA Games in Manila, one better than its tally at the 2003
Games.