Hockey team to go abroad for tryouts

Hockey team to go abroad for tryouts

JAKARTA (JP): After considering a variety of tryout programs,
the Indonesia Hockey Association (PHSI) has announced that 18
hockey team members will be sent to Malaysia to prepare for the
20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The team will leave for Malaysia on Sunday for stints with
various clubs, PHSI chairman Primadi Tabrani said on Saturday
after meeting with National Sports Council (KONI) chairman
Wismoyo Arismunandar.

"This is a good opportunity for our team, because we rarely
have joint practice sessions. We all know that the Malaysian
hockey team has an international reputation," he told Antara.

Although the Malaysian team competes in world championships,
he said he was still optimistic about Indonesia's chances in the
biennial event to be held in Brunei Darussalam from Aug. 7 to
Aug. 15.

"It's impossible for our team to beat Malaysia. But we will
try to obtain something from this trip, in an effort to develop a
strategy to beat Singapore in the SEA Games. If we can beat the
Singaporeans, the silver medal is certainly in our hands."

In the 1997 Games here, Indonesia's women's hockey team
grabbed a bronze. But this year, the women's team will not play
due to poor physical performances.

PHSI has been under fire for refusing to stage a warm-up
against local teams, with the association saying they were below
the national team's standard. It had urged KONI to approve its
overseas training proposal.

"We received notification from KONI last Friday allowing our
team to leave for the tryouts. KONI will give each athlete Rp 1.5
million (US$225)," he said.

KONI chief Wismoyo announced on Saturday that eight junior
bowlers, will soon depart for Singapore to compete in the Asian
Junior Bowling Championships from July 19 to July 24.

Two junior bowlers Ryan Leonard Lalisang and Putty Insavilla
Armein, both of whom are preparing for the Games, were also
included in the team.

Chairman of the Indonesian Bowling Association (PBI) Subagio
said the two SEA Games squad members had an opportunity to
sharpen their skills at the championship.

"There have been no tryouts for our SEA Games squad. Besides,
the training facility here is not adequate, because it does not
meet international standards," he said.

Ryan and Putty, who will compete in individual and team events
at the Games, said they were confident they could win gold medals
for the country.

"We are ready to grab golds, although this is the first time
we will represent Indonesia at an event," Putty said.

The junior team departing for Singapore on Sunday are men's
team Haqi Armen, Ryan, Daniel and Tommy Wijaya, and women's team
Putty, Putri Prianto, Defiatrani and Seron Limonsastra.(ivy)