Indonesia aims to stay in 1st division of Asian baseball

JAKARTA (JP): The just-promoted Indonesian baseball team is aiming to maintain its presence in the first division of the Asian Championship baseball tournament.

"Our main target is to stay in the first division and will fight our best to prevent being relegated to the second division," team manager Joedo Asmoro told reporters on Saturday at a farewell party to the team before it departed to Taipei on Sunday.

"Indonesia will be able to field its baseball players in the Pusan 2002 Asian Games if we can maintain our presence in the first division because only the countries in the first division can field their players," he said.

Indonesia -- which upset the favorites, Pakistan, in the second division match played at home in February to get promoted to the first division -- will face tough challenges from host Chinese Taipei, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea in the championships which will take place from Tuesday until Friday.

Mainland China is also grouped in the first division but a political rift has prevented the team from crossing the channel to Taipei.

Meanwhile, secretary general of the Indonesian Baseball and Softball Association (Perbasasi), Suryo Adi Prasetyo, expected players to lift the country's honor instead of disgracing it.

"Players must not play selfishly and must place the team's interests above the individual's otherwise we will be ruined," he said.

"You must not be frightened by stronger countries and you must play your best with fighting spirits."

Indonesia's head delegate Harry Trisnadi and head coach Rahmad Nasir left for Taipei on Saturday to attend the technical meeting on Sunday. The team is also accompanied by other officials; an umpire, statistician and motivator.

The Indonesian team is scheduled to face Japan on Tuesday before facing the Philippines on Wednesday. On Thursday, Indonesia meets host Taipei and faces South Korea on Friday.

"Players must take advantage in the first game against Japan. It will be a good start if the players can steal several runs from Japan," Joedo said.

"It will boost our morale against the Philippines, whom we are due to play the next day, because we have set our target to win against them."

Coach Syahril Nasution and captain Lukmanul Hakim told The Jakarta Post that the Indonesian team was ready to give its best performance.

"We have been working to improve our power and speed because most of our opponents, especially Japan, have good power and speed. We also have to improve our teamwork," said Syahril.

Meanwhile Uki, Lukmanul's nickname, said he would do his best to keep his teammates focused on the match.

"My main duty is to keep the players cool and concentrated especially during critical moments," he said. (nvn)