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