FORKI selects 19 karatekas for SEA Games

SEMARANG (JP): The Indonesian Karate-Do Federation (FORKI) has selected 19 karatekas comprising 11 men and eight women to perform in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur in September.

Director of the Games' training program Boy Crain said on Monday that the karatekas had undergone a tight selection procedure in the decentralized training program in Surabaya. FORKI had earlier invited 28 karatekas, mostly veterans, to take part in the selection trials early in February.

"These 19 karatekas managed to outclass the other nine," he said.

The men's karatekas who will fight in the kumite events are Isfan Tanjung (55 kg), Arif Taufan Syamsuddin (60 kg), Hasan Basri (65 kg), Novilus Tedius Yoku (70 kg), Sony Simangasing and Sudirman (75 kg), Umar Syarief (over 80 kg) and Robert Karly in the open class.

The women's kumite karatekas selected for the national team are Yenny T (48 kg), Sandra Ariyani (53 kg), Christine Gani (60 kg), Meity Kaseger (60 kg) and Mariani in the open class.

The kata men's team consists of Aswan Ali, Elias Tande and Wahyu Hidayat while the women's team members are Endah Jubaedah, Iin Hasanah and Julianti Syarifuddin.

M. Gusti, William Mantiri, Christine Taroreh, Dicky BS and Johannes Kunto were appointed as the coaches.

Boy said FORKI might not send all 19 karatekas to Kuala Lumpur, but would make a further selection depending on their physical fitness and achievements prior to the Games.

"We'll only send karatekas in certain events who have the greatest chances of winning gold medals," he said.

However, he gave assurances that the federation had chosen the best karatekas in their respective weight divisions.

Boy said that although FORKI had yet to set a target, he was sure the national squad could win more golds than at the 1999 Games in Brunei Darussalam when the national karatekas brought home seven.

"We have to force them to give their best."

Boy said Malaysia would be the toughest challenger, particularly in the lighter weight divisions while Indonesia could dominate the heavier weight divisions. (har)