Indonesia aims to stay in 1st division of Asian baseball
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)