Earlier Asiad training for rowers

Indonesian rowers and canoeists are expected to start their preparations for the 2002 Asian Games one week ahead of the official Jan. 15 kick-off set by the National Sports Council (KONI).

As usual, the training program for the water sport athletes will take place at Jatiluhur reservoir in Purwakarta, West Java, some 70 kilometers east of here.

"KONI has set the centralized training to start on Jan. 15 but we asked all canoeists and rowers to show up one week earlier," the Indonesian Rowing Association (PODSI) secretary-general, Budiman Setiawan, told Antara at Jatiluhur on Friday.

PODSI has called up 26 canoeists and rowers to attend the national training camp.

The team includes Lasmin who won a silver medal at the Bangkok 1998 Asiad in men's rowing and the canoeing pair of La Pada and Sayadin who snatched a bronze medal.

"We expect the three to win gold medals at Asiad. That's why we named them our most important athletes," Budiman said.

La Pada and Sayadin, both of Southeast Sulawesi, have started practicing because they live in Jatiluhur with their families.

Lasmin has reportedly asked PODSI to provide him with a house where his family could live with him during the training program. -- JP