Fencing body aiming for bronzes at 13th Asiad

Fencing body aiming for bronzes at 13th Asiad

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Fencing Association aims to win
bronze medals at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to
Dec. 20.

The association's secretary-general, Soerjono, said yesterday
that Indonesia's toughest rivals would come from China, South
Korea, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kuwait and Japan.

"Technically they are better than our fencers because the
fencing development in those countries has advanced rapidly," he
said.

Indonesia won a silver medal at the 1990 Asian Games in
Beijing courtesy of Silvia Kristina Koeswandi in the women's
individual epee.

The association plans to start its decentralized national
training program next month.

"We plan to only groom six female fencers while the men's
team, which only has a slim chance of reaching the top four, will
not be fielded," Soerjono said.

The female fencers are Silvia Kristiani, Sri Ayanti, Rini
Ismalasari, Mutti Susiarini, Paulany Ratu and Christine Timisela.

"The association will decide by the end of July which athletes
will compete at the Asiad," he said.

Indonesia will compete in the epee and foil events.

"We plan to send the athletes on an overseas tryout in France
in September and October," Soerjono said, as quoted by Antara.

The association has planned to use the SEA Fencing
Championship here in June as one of its main warm-up events. It
also plans to hire a foreign coach based on recommendations from
the International Fencing Federation. (yan)