FINA asked to qualify Meitri for Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) will send a request to the international swimming federation FINA to qualify women's swimmer Meitri Widya Pangestika for the Olympic Games in Sydney in September.

The PRSI official responsible for competitions Lisa F. Siregar said on Thursday that the National Sports Council (KONI) was hopeful that the swimming body would allow the swimmer to prove her best in the quadrennial event.

But Lisa doubted that FINA would approve the request, saying that Meitri's personal best of 2:07.89 in the 200m freestyle event set during the 15th National Games (PON) last month did not meet the Olympic Games B limit standard entry time of 2:07.07.

"We will still put forward the request although we already know the answer. The time standard set by FINA is already clear," she said.

Lisa added that KONI wanted to attract swimmers for grooming with a view to the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and has offered Meitri the chance.

"Meitri collected three golds in PON, coming in second after Elsa Manora Nasution, who won five. KONI asked us about the possibility of grooming Meitri for the SEA Games. All athletes competing in the Olympics will immediately join the SEA Games training program. Meitri is another likely candidate after Elsa," Lisa said after a meeting with Olympic and SEA Games training director Arie Sudewo.

Arie, who is also KONI vice chairman, confirmed that the council had asked PRSI to forward the request.

"We'll ask FINA to approve Meitri's time and qualify her for the Olympics. Hopefully FINA will accede to our request," he said.

Speaking about the poor form of national archer Hamdiah in PON, Arie said the Olympic qualifier was expected to reach her peak at the Olympics.

"She only employed 60 percent of her capacity in PON. That's in line with the Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani) training program. Besides, her province had excessive expectations of her and asked her to perform in too many events," he said.

Hamdiah competed in the FITA round and national round, but skipped the traditional round. She managed a bronze in the Olympic version of the FITA round and a silver in the women's individual 40m range of the national round.

With regard to track and field, Arie said that KONI would probably invite one more men's sprinter to be groomed for the SEA Games. He failed to name the sprinter, but it is likely to be Erwin Heru Santoso of East Java.

Erwin finished second with a time of 10.16 in the men's 100m dash, followed by John Murray of Irian Jaya who clocked 10.23. John's fellow Irianese Yanes Raubaba was first in 10.13 and set a new national record. Yanes and John have already joined the training program.

Arie also said KONI would review the bonuses which are often promised by KONI, its provincial chapters, provincial governments and other institutions, during its national congress which is scheduled for later in November.

"Bonuses promised prior to competition are against IOC rules on amateurism. Such promises are banned. But, if the athlete concerned has already won, then it's OK to present him with something as a reward," he stated.

He also refused to comment on the Rp 1 billion incentive offered by Extra Joss, an Indonesian energy drink manufacturer, for any national athlete who managed to win a gold medal in the Olympics.

"I haven't heard about this offer. So I won't make any comment." (ivy)