Indonesia athletes try out in Malaysia

JAKARTA (JP): After four months of training, national track and field athletes will have to prove whether practice makes perfect during two tournaments in Malaysia and Singapore which start this weekend. The tournaments are preludes to the 18th Southeast Asian Games.

The Indonesian track and field association (PASI) has named 34 athletes to participate at the two meets which will be used by other Southeast Asian teams as warm-up events for the Dec. 9-17 Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

PASI's official in charge of the training program, Pieter Noya, said on Monday that the 34 athletes he has groomed will be split into two teams. Fifteen athletes are heading for Penang, Malaysia from Aug. 18 to 20, and the rest will turn up for the Anniversary of Independence championships in Singapore from Sept. 2 to 4.

"Our preparations ran as expected. Barring unforeseen injuries, we will keep at least 11 gold medals safe in our hands during the SEA Games," Noya told a hearing with the National Sports Council led by its chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.

"Our team could gain more if they are willing to undergo a more vigorous stint," Noya added.

Indonesian athletes surpassed the target of winning seven golds in the last SEA Games in Singapore in 1993 by snatching 13 golds, the first major haul since the 1987 Games at home.

Such an outstanding performance put the national track and field athletes squarely in the spotlight, with rewards from PASI chairman Bob Hasan, in the form of cash bonuses and houses, bestowed upon them. (amd)