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)