Indonesia expects more golds from the 12th Asian Games
JAKARTA (JP): Barring unforeseen injuries, Indonesian athletes will garner more golds than previously expected in the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, an official of the national sports controlling body (KONI) says.
Arnold Lisapaly, KONI training director, revealed his guarded optimism that, based on their latest performance, the national athletes will surpass the gold medal haul they brought home four years ago.
Three golds from tennis and boxing helped Indonesia join the gold winners' club and finish seventh at the 1990 Games.
"But the honors that we win next October won't be a trustworthy guarantee that we will finish better than in 1990," Arnold said after a consultation meeting with national amateur boxing association (Pertina) and the Indonesian wushu governing body (PBWI) yesterday.
Indonesia will likely to take part in 16 out of 34 sports in the Oct. 2-16 Games. There will be 337 medal events at stake, compared to the 308 up for grabs in 27 sports featured in Beijing. The national squad will be made up of between 120 and 150 sportsmen and women.
KONI has predicted that the national squad should take at least eight golds to live up its expectation to finish sixth overall at the upcoming Asiad.
"This time we have many sports to excel in, not just badminton," Arnold said. Citing some examples, he said Indonesia had performed well at the international level in boxing, wind surfing, tennis and weightlifting.
He also hailed the sportsmanship of top officials of various athletic organizations for deciding not to compete in the Games if they did not have a good chance of winning medals.
As of yesterday, two sport bodies, the Indonesian Gymnastics Association (Persani) and the Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI), have officially announced their withdrawals.
Boxing
During yesterday's meeting, KONI put its weight behind Pertina's plan to form a seven-man boxing team. The pugilists, who have been groomed since last January, are undergoing their final training stint in Cuba.
Fielding pinweight Hermensen Balo, flyweight Rachman Kili- kili, featherweight Nemo Bahari, bantamweight Victor Ramos, light middleweight Hendrik Simangunsong, and two middleweight boxers of Albert Papilaya and Pino Bahari, Pertina seeks at least two golds in Asiad.
Pertina's executive chairman Imron ZS said there was still the possibility of some boxers being eliminated, pending the athletes performance in Cuba.
Imron also promised to resolve a dispute over Pino's refusal to fight in the light heavyweight division. Pino won Indonesia's lone boxing gold medal in Beijing. He outpointed Albert in the Golden Gloves championships in Ujungpandang early this month.
KONI also agreed to the PBWI's proposal to name Eko Saphuan and Jainab the country's representatives in the Asiad wushu competitions. (amd)