Foreign athletes at Indonesia Open
JAKARTA (JP): Fifteen athletes from three foreign countries will take part in the Indonesia Athletics Open here from Aug. 21 to Aug. 24.
The fifteen athletes from Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Myanmar will compete against 400 local athletes in 15 events at the championships.
Among the 15 events are the men's and women's 100-meter sprints, long jump, javelin throw, 100-meter hurdle and 10,000- meter walk.
The organizer yesterday confirmed Singapore will field Hiranisha in 100-meter dash women, Jairajkumar in 20,000-meter race walk men, Norfazilah in 100 and 200 meters dash women and Tan Shie Lie in 100 and 200 meters dash women.
On the Brunei Darusalam contingent there are Khairul in 1,500 meters run men's event, Rozaria Rose Quinto in 10,000 meters race walk women's event and Tea Ai Seng who will compete in discuss throw event.
The organizer so far has yet to receive a list of player names from Myanmar.
The championship will start on 4.30 p.m tomorrow.
"The Indonesian Athletics Federation (PASI) will make the championships part of the selection process for athletes trying out for the SEA Games," organizer Sumartoyo said yesterday.
He said the federation would field 79 SEA Games athletes at the championships.
"Sixteen national athletes will miss the Indonesian Open because they are now in Houston, Texas," he said.
Sumartoyo further said Indonesia's leading woman runner Ruwiyati could take part in the 10,000 meters when she recovers from osteoporosis.
Ruwiyati, who was earlier banned from running in the marathon by the federation, is said to be fit to run at the Indonesian Open.
SEA Games track and field training director Tigor M. Tanjung said that runners would be selected fairly, based on their performance at tryouts at home and abroad.
He said every athlete had the chance to win at the championships and be part of the SEA Games team.
"The final selection will be made after the Malaysian Open which is on Sept. 8," he said.
Indonesia's SEA Games athletes, who have been at the centralized training center since January last year, are under the supervision of coaches Niki Patisena and Heri Setiono.
The federation also sent some athletes to Australia in February this year for a one-month training program.
The athletes on the Australian training program were Nunuk Apriati, Johny Thenu, Ester Sumah, Suprianti, Rumini Sudragni, M. Rusli and Wisnu Nugroho.
Relying on its leading athletes, the federation wants to win at least eight golds at the coming SEA Games. (03)