Indonesia expects two golds at SEAG equestrian events
Indonesia expects two golds at SEAG equestrian events
JAKARTA (JP): Setting a target of bringing home two gold
medals, the Indonesian Equestrian Association has decided to send
nine riders to the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai,
Thailand.
"Actually, the National Sports Council asked us to allocate 12
athletes for the Chiang Mai Games, but after selecting them we
decided to field just nine. Hence, the target of only two gold
medals is quite reasonable," Suheryana, an official of the
association, said on Tuesday.
The nine athletes were picked from 15 riders who took part in
the association's SEA Games-bound centralized training program.
They will compete in three equestrian competitions: the dressage,
show jumping and three-day events.
The two gold medals might come from individual dressage and
team dressage, Suheryana said.
However, that does not mean that the association is
pessimistic about its riders' performances in the other events.
Ardi Hapsoro won the gold medal at the ASEAN special show jumping
championship at the Artayasa Stables in Cinere, South Jakarta,
two weeks ago.
As for the three-day event, Indonesia's chances of a winning a
gold medal there are slim, since the Chiang Mai Games will be the
first time Indonesia has competed in the grueling event.
Suheryana said host Thailand has imposed a new rule that
participating countries will have to use horses provided by the
Games' organizing committee.
Thailand will be advantaged by this rule because, as host, it
has ample time and opportunities to test the horses which are to
be made available by the organizing committee.
"This could be a serious handicap for our athletes. But let's
us keep fingers crossed," said Suheryana.
The Indonesians chosen to compete in the dressage event are
Ardi Hapsoro Hamijoyo, Indra Rosendi, Endaryanto Bambang S. and
Putri Wulandari Hamijoyo. Those to compete in the show jumping
event are Roni Sharial, Albert Pelealu, Ardy Hapsoro and Indra
Rosendy. Selected for the three-day event are Sutoyo Haryanto,
Gutomo, Nasri Labonu and Endaryanto. (arf)