E. Asia Squash meet starts here today

JAKARTA (JP): Seven countries have confirmed their participation in the 20th East Asia Squash Championship due to begin here today at the Pertamina squash center, located in South Jakarta's elite quarter of Simprug.

The championship, held every two years, will be officially opened by National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar. It is scheduled to last until June 30.

The Secretary-general of the Indonesian Squash Association, Henry Supanni, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that all participants from Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and South Korea had arrived here.

Henry added that Macau, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Brunei Darussalam had earlier expressed intentions to take part, but later withdrew.

Host Indonesia, according to Edwin Joenoes of the Indonesian Squash Association, will field a male team comprising Joni Supardi, Abdul Manaf, Walid Badawi of Egypt, a United Nations Development Program officer here, and Sandy Suryogumanti. The women's side will feature Fenny L. Mokalu, former tennis player Utaminingsih, Tieneke Kijono and an English teacher, Lynn Morton of England.

Expatriates who have lived in Indonesia for more than one year can make the Indonesian teams after passing a selection, Edwin added.

The championship features individual and team events for each gender. As a rule, participants will play singles matches only. Each country is allowed to send four players, with three of them making the team, and one serving as a reserve.

Hong Kong swept the men's team, the men's individual and the women's individual gold medals two years ago in Manila, with Malaysia winning the remaining title.

Edwin said that it would be the second time that Indonesia plays host to the championship. Indonesia hosted the championship for the first time in 1987, with its male team finishing sixth. Indonesia had not fielded a female team at the 1987 championship, and the Indonesian Squash Association had not been set up at that time.

"We hope that our men's team can finish among the top three," Muliana Sukardi, chairman of the organizing committee, said. No target has been set for the country's women's team, as the championship will be its maiden run.

The championship, despite its "East Asia" name, includes Southeast Asian countries in order to accommodate more participants, Edwin said. On the other hand, adding an "Asia" label to the championship would make the competition too large and overwhelming, as it would have to include world champions India and Pakistan, Edwin added. (arf)