E. Java asked to send supporters and fruits

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has asked East Java to send supporters and fruit to the 19th SEA Games.

"Since this is a request from KONI and the initiative of Governor Basofi Sudirman, we will send supporters and fruit produced by East Java to the SEA Games," Deputy Governor Abdul Hamid was quoted as saying by Antara in Surabaya yesterday.

In the past two days, dozens of 100-kilogram sacks of fruit from various regions in East Java have been sent to Surabaya. Some of them have been sent straight to the East Java provincial office in Jakarta on Jl. Pasuruan No. 18.

The fruit being sent to the SEA Games include oranges from Pamekasan and Madura, apples from Malang, duku from Jember and salak (snakeskin fruit) from Lumajang. There are also processed fruits produced by East Java for the Games. These are pisang sale (sweetened dry bananas) and kripik nangka (jackfruit chips).

"The fruit will be given out not only to fans from East Java but also to other supporters. We will send the fruit in huge amounts and all will be free of charge," Hamid said.

For the 1996 National Games in Jakarta, East Java sent thousand of supporters and seven tons of fruit for the supporters.

"We have received a good response from the athletes since we announced our intention of sending supporters and fruit to the Jakarta Games," Hamid said.

The Lampung chapter of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) has announced that it will send supporters to the pencak silat events at the SEA Games.

Lampung pencak silat coach Budi Sanusi said in Bandarlampung yesterday that the sending of the supporters was to cheer the spirits of the pencak silat athletes competing in the Games.

"As well as the supporters, Lampung IPSI officials will also attend the Games. We hope this will boost the morale of the pencak silat athletes," Budi said.

Of the pencak silat athletes, one, Suwandi, comes from Lampung.

Suwandi was a gold medalist at the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 1995, and grabbed a silver medal in the 14th National Games for Lampung.

"In the 19th SEA Games, Suwandi will compete in the B category (50-55kg). We hope Suwandi will capture a gold for Indonesia," Budi said, as quoted by Antara. (lnt)