Equestrian team to compete at Asiad
Equestrian team to compete at Asiad
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) is at the
center of yet more controversy on its selection of athletes for
the 13th Asian Games after it gave the green light to equestrians
to compete in Bangkok.
Chairman of the council Wismoyo Arismunadar justified
yesterday the decision for both practical grounds and medal-
winning prospects.
"They will be in Thailand until before the Asiad, so why don't
we let them stay longer for the Games? Their international
achievements are okay, and they can cover their own expenses," he
said.
"This is a special policy. We shouldn't argue about this.
Sometimes a policy goes against the rules but we can accept it
for the sake of its benefits."
The council earlier announced that only prospective medal
winners would form the national team for the Asiad. Selection of
the athletes was to be based on their records or world rankings.
Equestrian events are not listed among the priority sports for
Indonesia in this year's Asiad. Due to the financial crisis, the
council expects to send a tiny team to the quadrennial games.
But Wismoyo has also backed the national soccer team's return
to the Games, despite its failure to lift an international title
since clinching the Southeast Asian Games gold in 1989.
The dispensations drew a dressing-down from national tennis
team manager, Benny Mailili, who accused the council Tuesday of
adhering to a double standard allowing "rich" sports
organizations to send their athletes to the Games.
The equestrian team comprises Ardi Hapsoro, Indra Rosendi, Roy
Ibrahim, Rafiq Hakim Radinal, Putri Wulandari and Kurniadi
Mustopha. They will compete in six events of the Southeast Asian
league of the Volvo World Cup, one stop of which will be in
Thailand in November.
They leave for the Malaysian leg tomorrow.
Rafiq, who also chairs the Jakarta branch of the Indonesian
Horse Society, said both the league and the Asian Games were
among the qualifying events for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Ardi, the country's best hope in the individual event, said
the team had a major chance to win at least a bronze medal in the
Asiad equestrian team event.
"We will only face stiff challenges from Saudi Arabia and
Japan," said Ardi, runner-up in the 1997 SEA league series.
Rafiq said land transportation and accommodation fees for the
overseas trips alone would cost the society about Rp 500 million
(US$38,500).
The Navy has promised to provide ships to transport horses and
vehicles for the equestrian team. (yan)