Hayono wants sports bodies to evaluate athletes' form

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)