Indonesia has slim chance in shooting

BANGKOK (JP): With China and South Korea appearing in fine form, Indonesia is doubtful about its prospects of achieving its target to win a silver medal in the shooting competition at the 13th Asian Games on Thursday.

National shooting team manager Benny Mamoto said on Tuesday that the continent's superpowers in the sport would likely introduce new faces but still remain too strong to beat.

"We will just rely on our fighting spirit," Benny said of his women shooters' chances in the team and individual double trap events.

Indonesia is fielding Sarmunah, Rina Dwi Kusumaningtyas and Titin Hendawati.

Sarmunah was part of the national women's double trap team which won a silver at the 1994 Asiad in Hiroshima, Japan.

Indonesian Shooting and Hunting Association chairman Sutiyoso said prior to the Games that winning medals was out of the question if the markswomen were to don the national colors here.

"It's more important for us now to go all out. We'll only compete on one day so we must do our best," Benny said.

The trio of shooters were groomed for 10 months for the Games at the Cilodong training camp in East Jakarta.

In the pre-Asian Games in August, the national team took home a gold from Sarmunah and a bronze from the team. But the Chinese, South Koreans and Japanese were absent from the event.

Rina said that she had yet to find anything to disturb her preparations at the Sports Authority of Thailand sports complex.

"The weather is the same as in Jakarta. We only have to adapt to the wind at the venue because it will influence our shooting on competition day," she said.

Sarmunah said: "We only have to concentrate on the competition. The results will follow if we can perform well. I think the technical skills among the participating countries are the same. It's just a matter of concentration." (yan)