Financial shortage hampers wushu athletes

Financial shortage hampers wushu athletes

JAKARTA (JP): Financial shortage is likely to stop 12 wushu
athletes from competing in the Wushu World Championship in Hong
Kong, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Wushu coach from Jakarta, Amos Panjaitan, said on Friday that
six athletes from Jakarta could withdraw from the championship
because the Indonesian Wushu Association (WI) could not afford to
pay for their transportation and accommodation.

He expressed hope that the National Sports Council (KONI)
would give financial support.

"We won't get support from WI because we already know its
financial status. We are hoping support will come from KONI, but,
as of Friday, we have not received any response from KONI," Amos,
who is also in charge of athlete development at WI, was quoted by
Antara.

Susiana, Herman Wijaya and Albert Maweru are among the six
athletes from Jakarta who would leave for Hong Kong.

Chief of the Wushu training center, T. Rahmad Setiadi, also
complained of the fund shortage, which could prevent him from
sending his daughter, Susiana, to the world championship. He said
he would probably use his own money.

WI's chairman, Mediteransjah, told KONI chairman Wismoyo
Arismunandar on Friday that the 12 wushu athletes comprised two
from North Sumatra, three from East Java, one from West Java and
six from Jakarta.

"The world championship is attended by wushu athletes from 77
countries. It is our third time at the world championship," he
said.

He said Indonesia's wushu athlete Zainab won silver in one of
the championships. He said that WI did not set any target in this
year's championship.

Wismoyo said the wushu athletes should prepare for their
targets in the international championship. "I need to know their
preparation, including their target. I don't want you to merely
report your schedule and wait for my instructions," he said.

But Wismoyo failed to mention whether KONI would give
financial support to the athletes.(ivy)