Gymnastic body to send six athletes to U.S. and Russia

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Gymnastics Association plans to send six athletes to train in the United States and Russia.

Association Secretary-General Sri Hastuti Merdiko said during a breaking of the fast gathering yesterday that two men and two women would be sent to Houston in April to be coached at Bela Karolyi's camp.

Karolyi used to coach Olympic gold medalists Nadia Comaneci of Rumania and America's Mary Lou Retton.

Also in April two women rhythmic gymnasts are to go to Russia for coaching.

"The problem about sending our athletes to the United States is their study because they are doing their examinations now the rhythmic athletes will also have to deal with the cold weather in Russia," Hastuti, nicknamed Tuti, said.

The gymnastics training vice director, Frederick Huma, said that the association had received a fax from Karolyi's camp outlining the requirements for the Indonesian athletes to practice there.

"In the U.S., athletes must practice at least 35 hours a week. Our athletes practice about six hours per day, six days a week, so they fulfill the requirements," he said.

National gymnasts are to take part in the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, in May and in the Universiade in Sicily, Italy, in August.

However, Tuti declined to name the athletes to be sent to the United States or Russia.

"We have yet to decide who to send but we'll select the athletes with the most potential," she said.

She indicated that Indonesia's best hope, Jonathan Sianturi, who won two golds at the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, would not be sent because the association has also contracted five Russian coaches.

"Jonathan only needs to perfect his routines. Besides, we expect the Russian coaches to arrive this month," she said.

Two of the three coaches, Yuri Kouznetsov and Irina Voino, have coached here since November.

Tuti said that the four female gymnasts who were injured had recovered and were able to practice. They are Afrina Siahaan, Novi Kartianasari, Sherly Novitasarie and Nurfiana Achmadi.

Tuti pointed out that Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia would probably dominate the sport at the biennial Games, which is to take place here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

"Our athletes must do their best to meet the National Sports Council target of winning four golds," she said.

Indonesia only won two golds, one silver and four bronzes at the last Games.

Tuti urged the Games organizers to provide new equipment.

"Sometimes, our athletes are injured because of the inappropriate equipment. I want the organizers to provide the equipment soon. So far, we have to borrow from the Sports Department of the Jakarta city administration because it has new apparatus acquired for the National Games in September," she said. (yan)