Indonesia hires foreign coach

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, out to retain its reputation as the number one gymnastics nation in South East Asia, has hired two other foreign coaches to be in charge of its gymnasts, now training hard for the 14th SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The coaches are Golitch Alexander from Russia and Takako Watanabe from Japan. Together with another Russian coach Kouznetsov Iouri, who has been in the country since July last year, they will be in charge of the gymnasts.

Indonesian Gymnastics Association secretary Tuti Mardiko said the association is preparing early for the Games because it has firmly set its sights on once again finishing at the top of the medals tally in the gymnastics competitions at the biennial sporting celebration. (bas)