Indonesia looks to regain sepaktakraw dominance

Indonesia looks to regain sepaktakraw dominance

By Ivy Susanti

JAKARTA (JP): Sepaktakraw is a traditional Indonesian sport
which is popular among natives of South Sulawesi, Kalimantan and
Sumatra.

Yet, Indonesia no longer dominates the sport. Neighboring
Thailand and Malaysia have proven their superiority in several
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

In the 20th SEA Games in Brunei Darussalam from Aug. 7 to Aug.
15, Indonesian players are aiming to win a minimum of a bronze
medal in the men's team event.

In the 1995 Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Indonesia earned
two bronzes; two years ago, it managed to grab four bronzes from
the four events.

Coach Andi Ali Saladin is optimistic his players will be able
to garner a bronze from the two gold medals at stake despite the
fact that most of the team are juniors.

Only three of the 12 squad members -- Rasiwan, Musthakim and
Masriyanto -- played in the biennial event here two years ago.

Mustakhim was recruited for the SEA Games squad to replace Eko
Kusdinanto, who contracted typhoid and was hospitalized in
Salatiga, Central Java.

"Most of the players are juniors and I think they have their
own motivation to win a medal in the Games. Besides, 10 of the
players come from Central Java, which makes it easier to build
teamwork among them," he said.

"The players also are preparing for the 2000 National Games
(PON) in Surabaya."

Andi said he drilled his athletes to improve their service
technique and service returns.

He returns serve with a tennis racket to test their reactions
and increasing their power.

"They are improving their service with 300 balls every day,
150 each in the morning and in the evening," he said.

Due to financial shortages of the Indonesian Sepaktakraw
Association (Persetasi), Andi took his team on a domestic
competition tour of Java.

"We won all the games," he said, adding that his team was not
intent on victory but on evaluating its skills.

Andi said Thailand and Malaysia would likely dominate the
biennial event.

"The Thai team's technical skills are much better than our
players. Sepaktakraw is growing fast there and Thailand has a
regular national competition.

"But the Malaysian's team strength is not far better than
ours," he said.

Persetasi stages the national championships every two years.

In an effort to keep up with the Thai team's prowess, Andi
said his players studied the Thai players on videotape. He also
said that Thai's players possessed powerful services.

"The team is able to direct a powerful service which is
penetrating and direct," he said.

Sepaktakraw team lineup

Group A: Jato, Miftahkhul Arif, Rasiwan

Group B: Asry Syam, Eddy Riwoto, Tri Aji

Group C: Dodi Purnomo, Masriyanto, Musthakim

Group D: Ari Catur, Jasril, Nasrun