Fitria, Merani intend to take part in SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Karate-Do Federation (FORKI) gave national women's karatekas Fitria Mega and Merani Mega Sjaukat five days to reconsider their decision to leave the Institut Karate Indonesia (Inkai) karate school.

The athletes must reverse their decision if they wish to take part in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Both athletes met with FORKI secretary-general Hendardji on Thursday to discuss the possibility of their joining the national team.

"We were given two options by Pak Hendardji. The first is a one-year suspension from all events, including the SEA Games, and the second is rescinding our resignation letters so we can join the national team. We have been given five days to make a decision," Fitria said after the meeting at FORKI's office in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Currently, FORKI has decided not to include both Fitria and Merani -- who teamed up with Trimurti Wulandari to win the 1999 SEA Games kata team gold -- in the 2001 SEA Games squad list.

The three karatekas also performed well in several international events prior to the 1999 Games, including a second- place finish at the Asian Karate Federation (AKF) championships in Singapore and a third-place finish at the World Ladies Cup in Tokyo.

Fitria said she, her sister Merani and their four brothers -- M. Fachry Mega, M. Rafi Mega, M. Arif Mega and Nanda Mega -- submitted their resignation letters in July to protest Inkai's actions during the selection for the 2000 Army Chief of Staff (Kasad) Cup in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Fitria was asked to replace Ria in the individual kata because Ria had failed to show up for the event. Fitria, who normally only performs in the kata team, agreed and qualified for the event.

But the Inkai Jakarta chapter, which was responsible for the selection, inserted Ria in the event after she showed up late. Fitria was upset and confronted Inkai, while Ria said she was considering skipping the Cup.

The dispute became personal as it also involved Fitria's family and senior Inkai masters, who she refused to name.

"Father met with the senior masters and apologized for my behavior but he was insulted in return. They felt that they were seniors and refused to acknowledge their faults," Fitria said.

"They hurt my pride and my family so we decided to leave from the school."

Inkai chairman Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri tried to persuade the athletes to remain at the school and promised to settle the conflict. But he issued a decree on Dec. 26 confirming the resignations.

FORKI then named Endah Jubaedah, Iin Hasanah and Julianti Syarifuddin to the SEA Games women's kata team. The three sisters won the 2000 Kasad Cup while Fitria, Merani and Wulandari finished in second.

Meanwhile, the federation called on 21 karatekas, mostly veterans, to take part in the Feb. 6 to Feb. 10 SEA Games selection in Surabaya. Nineteen karatekas will then take part in a training program in the city until May 31. (ivy)