Fight is on for men's softball team to retain title

The last time softball was played in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games was in 1997 in Jakarta, where the host men's team defeated the Philippines for the first time in their long-standing rivalry.

The tables are turned eight years later.

Today, the team, coached by Iwan Pujiharto, will face a tough struggle against a powerful and motivated Philippines, cheered on by home supporters.

The national team won the pre-SEA Games tournament in Kuala Lumpur last month, but Iwan noted the Philippines sent its third- string team.

"Even compared to their third pitcher, our best pitcher was almost unable to measure up."

Indonesia beat the Philippines 5-3 in Kuala Lumpur, although their opponents notched more hits, eight compared to five.

"Their pitching worked well. We struggled to a victory that came in large part through our defense," Iwan said.

Perbasasi also recruited Australian star pitcher Tanya Harding, an Olympic medalist who was ranked among the top five pitchers in the world for many years, to help the team.

"She was with us for two weeks. It was brief, but hopefully the team got benefits from her stint," said Gugun Yudinar, executive chairman of Indonesian Amateur Baseball & Softball Federation (Perbasasi).

While the men are seeking to defend their gold, the national women's team is desperately trying to compete with their Filipina rivals, who they lost to yet again in Kuala Lumpur.

However, Yuliastono took a positive viewpoint, saying they had read up on Philippine game and knew how to tackle the team.

The women are training at two venues, with 14 of the team in Bandung, West Java, and the rest in Jakarta.

Softball teams Men: Jajat Sudrajat, Teuku Ridwan, Donny Kusuma, Dedi Chandra, Noke Patiwael, Roy Umbasa, Heri Haeruman, Harmoko, Danika, Riska Ramdani, Teguh Iman, Adi Saputra, M. Said, Gofur Novanto, Zakaria, Otto Wahyu Minarto, Zubaidi, Indra Gunawan

Women: Mutiara Halmaherawati, Puri Indraswati, Mimin Mulyati, Ira, Nurjanah, Radiana, Radiani, Gelar Puspa, Jessica Ratih, Anita Sari Liu, Elfira Songyanan, Widaningsih, Sri Nurratnasari, Prawita Sari, Tineke Huwae, Desi Lalihatu, Philea Prastika