E. Java eyes 2nd place in 14th National Games

JAKARTA (JP): East Java is set to regain second place at this year's 14th National Games (PON), scheduled here from Sept. 9 to Sept. 20, the province's Governor Basofi Sudirman said on Saturday.

"I am optimistic we can take back our second position, which we lost to West Java in the previous Games in 1993," Basofi said. He made the remark upon passing the main PON torch to Central Java Governor Soewardi at Biting, a village in East Java's Ponorogo regency which borders the two provinces.

East Java dropped to the third spot in the medal tally for the first time since 1973 in the 13th National Games which saw Jakarta retaining the overall title. Central Java was fourth.

Soewardi, who stood beside Basofi, said nothing about Central Java's bid at the upcoming Games, but emphasized that his province would rely heavily on swimmers and track and field athletes "to scoop up as many medals as possible".

Track and field and swimming, are also East Java's strong points. "Our athletes are ready. They have great self-confidence and are going to battle it out. I believe they'll do their best," Basofi said.

Soewardi added that some gold medals are absolutely certain to fall into the hands of his athletes. Central Java has marathon runner and Southeast Asian Games champion Ruwiyati, middle- distance runner Tri Asih Handayani, who is also a SEA Games champion, Ferry Junaidi, the winner of the boys' walk in the Asian junior track and field championship, and the female discus thrower Darmina.

"We have also sent 20 swimmers to train in China," Soewardi said. He added that he would grant his medal-winning athletes awards, such as jobs, which are more useful and lasting than cash gifts.

"A bonus of, say, Rp 50 million can be easily spent, but jobs cannot," he said.

From Biting, the main PON torch reached Surakarta on Saturday. It started its journey to Yogyakarta yesterday morning. (arf)