Four Indonesian swimmers head to world championships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is to send four swimmers to the world championships in Perth, Australia, from Jan. 8 to Jan. 16.

Senior national coach Lukman Niode said yesterday the four are Armand Pandji, Catherine Surya, Rita Mariani and Silvy Triana. Lukman was a former national swimmer.

The four swimmers will be accompanied by team manager P.P. Simatupang, Antara reported yesterday.

"The selection of the four swimmers was based on their performance during the 19th SEA Games here from Oct. 9 to Oct. 18 and long term training program 1996-2000 from the Indonesian Swimming Association," Lukman said.

He said that the swimmers had prepared for the world championships since the middle of November. "They only had two months to prepare for the world meet. We hope they could show their best form."

Referring to the target at Perth, Lukman said it was expected the swimmers could be among the 16 world best swimmers or at least rewrite the national records.

"We expect at the minimum the swimmers will be included among the 20 world best," Lukman said.

Anything else would be a bonus as the competition will be exceptionally tough.

"World class swimmers will come from China, the United States and Europe. Host Australia will certainly send its best swimmers," Lukman said.

Catherine, 17, will compete in the 100m freestyle, 200m butterfly and 200m freestyle events.

Catherine comes from the Cirebon Tirta Baruna club. During the Jakarta Games, Catherine grabbed four golds, two silvers and one bronze. She also broke three SEA Games records.

Rita, from the Hiu Surabaya club, will compete in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, and 200m relay events. In the October Games she took three golds and one bronze. She broke two SEA Games records.

Silvy, from the Jakarta Tirtamas Taruna club, will compete in the 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events. She collected two golds and three silvers at the Games, and broke one SEA Games record.

Armand, a 18 year old from Bandung, will compete in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events.

Former Olympian Richard Sam Bera is not going to the championships as he is concentrating on the Asian Games in Bangkok in December. (lnt)