Forki sets sights on SEA Games 2001

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Karate-Do Federation (Forki) announced on Tuesday plans to establish a centralized training center to prepare national karatekas for the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Forki secretary-general Hendardji Soepandji said the centralized training center would select participants after the 15th National Games (PON) in June 2000, because Forki wanted to search for junior karatekas during the Games.

The federation would also search for talented karatekas from the biennial Kasad (Army's Chief of Staff) Cup scheduled for August 2000, he said.

"The karatekas are currently preparing in their respective areas. We will send our talent scouts to seek out young karatekas who are below 15 years of age in a series of national championships next year."

"These young karatekas will join the training center for the 2001 SEA Games, which will start after PON," the military police colonel said after visiting Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.

Hendardji accompanied the karatekas team which competed last week in the Asian Union Karate Organization (AUKO) championship in Singapore.

Indonesia finished fifth with three silvers and bronzes each in the two-day competition which was attended by 25 Asian countries. Its medal tall did not measure up to its achievement two years ago when at the same event it earned two golds in the women's kumite competition.

Indonesia sent Arif Taufan Syamsuddin, Hasan Basri, Novilus Tedius Yoku, Sonny Simangasing and Umar Syarif in the men's kumite; Aswan Ali, Elias Tande and Wahyu Widayat in the men's kata team; Endang Trimurti Wulandari, Merani Mega and Fitria Mega Sjaukat in the women's kata team and Sandra Ariyani in the women's kumite.

Hendardji said he hoped the team member would be consistent in maintaining their physical ability and achievements so they could perform well at the SEA Games.

He also said that in the future Forki would groom junior athletes together with their seniors so that a gap in capabilities would not eventuate.

"Based on the AUKO championship results, we think there is a shortage of women's karatekas for the kumite event. But all the karatekas are getting older. Junior karatekas do not have the same level of capability as their seniors."

"After all, the junior karatekas should be able to train without any supervision. Training is not merely a responsibility for our officials," Hendardji said.

He said Forki had not named any karatekas for the 2004 Olympic Games, but that Indonesia could win medals in the light class division.

Eleven of the 19 class divisions will be featured at the 2004 Games. The event will exclude the men's and women's kumite team, men's and women's kata teams, men's and women's open class, women's below 48-kilograms class and men's below 55-kg division. (ivy)