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)