Five swimming golds targeted at SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia expects to win at least five swimming gold medals in the coming SEA Games in October, an official said.
Having observed their intensive training in the United States, Radja M. Nasution, a national swimming trainer said Sunday it was possible the country's swimmers could win five golds at the Games.
The Indonesian Swimming Association recently sent eight swimmers to the United States and one to Australia. Those sent to USA were top national swimmer Richard Sam Bera, Wisnu Wardhana, Albert C. Sutanto, Denny Kurniawan, Audi Oktavian, Olga Halim and Elsa Manora Nasution. Chaterine Surya was sent to Australia.
Two swimmers, Meitri Widya Pangestika and Rita Mariani, were not sent overseas because of their school commitments. Both are in their last grade of senior high school and will soon be taking examinations.
Radja said Indonesia's poor showing in the pool during the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was simply because the other competitors were better trained.
"Now the situation has changed, the swimmers have undergone intensive training both in the USA and Australia. I expect them to achieve similar results as at the 1994 Asian Games," Kompas quoted Radja as saying.
At the 1995 SEA Games, Indonesia captured four golds from swimming while in the 1994 Asian Games, Indonesia did not take any golds but many national records were broken.
According to Radja, the local male swimmers could well strike gold in the 50m and 100m freestyle events. Indonesia also has a good chance in the women's 100m butterfly, 200m backstroke and 400m medley events, he added.
"I know it is quite difficult but I am confident we can do it," Radja said.
Cycling
Meanwhile, Sofian Ruzian, secretary-general of the Indonesian Cycling Association said Saturday that six national cyclists preparing for the SEA Games will take part in the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia from Feb. 19 to March 2.
The cyclists are Tonton Susanto, Muhammad Basri, Muhammad Hamdi, Teguh Eko Pambudi, Nunung Burhanudin and Krisyanto.
"We have sent the list of cyclists participating in the Tour, which covers a distance of 1,478 kilometers over 10 stages. In the coming Games here, this event will not be contested but this is an important tournament. We want to know how their training is going," Sofian said.
Sofian added that no target had been set in the Tour since world class cyclists will also be competing. "We only expect the cyclists to improve their endurance and times."
Cyclists from 13 countries are to take part in the Tour de Lengkawi. Four are ASEAN members, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, and the others are Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Denmark, China, Canada, Switzerland and South Africa.
In the coming Tour, the cyclists will be assisted by trainer H Tarwi and mechanic Gatot Senjaya. (lnt)