Hayono wants sports bodies to evaluate athletes' form

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman has urged sports organizations which are unlikely to win medals at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December to evaluate their athletes' form before the National Sports Council's September deadline.

"Each sports body must evaluate its athletes' form objectively before September. If they cannot perform as expected, the body must voluntarily withdraw from the council's list of sports with a potential to win medals. Don't wait until the council drops the athletes," Hayono said yesterday at his office.

The council has announced it believes 11 sports have a chance to win at least silvers at the quadrennial event which offers 377 golds. They are badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, karate, shooting, tae kwon do, tennis, weightlifting, windsurfing and wushu.

Canoeing, fencing, rowing, sepak takraw, swimming, wrestling, equestrian, gymnastics, indoor volleyball, judo, soccer and track and field were sports which could win bronzes or reach the top four at the Asiad.

Hayono also urged sports organizations which are not on either list to keep preparing their athletes for other international events, including the 2002 Asiad in Pusan, South Korea.

Commenting on the country's soccer crisis, Hayono urged the All Indonesian Soccer Federation to stage the Indonesian League despite the country's economic turmoil.

"The competition must be staged in any conditions. It's not only for the sake of public interest but also to groom the players for the 2002 Asiad," he said.

"The government reckons soccer does not have any chance to reaching the Asiad semifinals. Four Asian countries -- Iran, Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia -- have qualified for the World Cup. How can Indonesia get a berth in the semis?" he said.

Hayono said national clubs would gather on Feb. 5 to discuss all problems concerning the national league, including the league's promoter and sponsors.

Jeannette Sujunadi, a director of league promoter PT Cipta Citra Senindo, said Wednesday that the company would not be able to fulfill its obligation to provide the Rp 5.3 billion (US$482,000) subsidy to the federation because no sponsors would provide the funds.

The subsidy was to be used for clubs in the Indonesian League and to finance league tournaments. (lnt/yan)