Eight groomed for world junior meet
Eight groomed for world junior meet
JAKARTA (JP): Eight Indonesian athletes are currently being prepared for the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Sydney, scheduled for Aug. 25 to 30.
Five female athletes and three male athletes are in training.
The five are Irene Yusuf (for 100m and 200m), Nyoman Rai (long jump, triple jump), Tri Asih Handayani (1500m, 3000m and 5000m), Rumini Sudragni (3000m, 5000m), Ruwiyati (3000m, 5000m).
The three male athletes are Novian Suhandri (400m), Eddy Junaedi (5000m) and Nunung Jayadi (pole vault).
Coach Peter Noya told The Jakarta Post yesterday that of the eight, only Handayani has qualified for the championships.
Handayani's best time of 35:45.07 she produced at the 11th Asian Track and Field Championships here last year qualifies her for the nomination, Noya said.
As for the other athletes, they must make it before Aug. 11, otherwise they will not be sent to Sydney. Three regional championships in May and June are prime opportunities for them to prove that they deserve the qualification for the world meet.
The regional championships are Indonesia Open Junior Track and Field Championships (Jakarta, June 5 to 7), Malaysia Open Junior Track and Field Championships (Kuala Lumpur, scheduled for late May) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Student Track and Field Championships (Jakarta, June 15 to 17).
Noya added that of the eight, Ruwiyati is the oldest. She is now going from 18 to 19. The age limit for "junior" athletes is 20.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI) secretary-general Barmawi Chaidir told The Post yesterday that thus far no world-class athletes have confirmed their participation in the second Bob Hasan Track and Field Invitational Meet scheduled here on May 4.
The meet, expected to prelude an envisaged Asian track and field Grand Prix, has invited four world champions, including American sprinter Dennis Mitchell and disc thrower world champion Lars Riddle.
"Yesterday I talked to Mr. Maurice R. Nicholas (secretary and treasurer of the Asian Amateur Athletics Association) by phone. He told me he is still waiting for their confirmation," Chaidir said.
Chaidir said that PASI chairman Mohammad (Bob) Hasan had sought help from the International Amateur Athletics Federation to bring in some world-class athletes from Europe and America. (arf)