FORKI selects 19 karatekas for SEA Games

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)