Indonesia names 94 athletes for Atlanta Olympic Games
JAKARTA (JP): Fight to do your best is what Indonesia's Olympic Games contingent was told when it gathered at the National Sports Council headquarters yesterday.
The team comprises 59 male and 35 female athletes who are being groomed to compete in 14 of the 26 events contested at the Games in Atlanta, Georgia from July 19 to Aug. 5.
Subardi Soear, director of the national training program, said that Indonesia is looking at four sports as likely sources of medals. They are badminton, tennis, boxing and archery.
The medal hopes rest on the shoulders of 20 shuttlers, two women tennis players, three female archers and five boxers.
Beach volleyball, judo, swimming, track and field, canoeing, rowing, weight lifting, yachting and table tennis are considered secondary sports in which Indonesia might participate.
"Although we have prepared athletes in all sports since February, the final decision on the team will be taken by the end of June," Subardi said.
"It is an honor for those who have been chosen to represent the country. And I hope you all will not let the people's hope down," chairman of the council Wismoyo Arismunandar said to the athletes.
Indonesia has vowed to grab more than two gold medals in Atlanta. Badminton put the country among the Olympic gold medal winning countries for the first time ever in Barcelona in 1992 when Alan Budikusuma won the men's singles title and Susi Susanti the women's singles crown.
Chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia Soerjadi said that the association did not wish to sweep all five gold medals but he hoped to see better results this time.
"It's true that we can't hope too much from the women's doubles, but I'm sure that we can win medals from the four other categories," he said.
Soerjadi said that his players have improved their physical and technical performance during their training, which started in February.
"Now we only have to pump their spirits to win," he said.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association has dropped a plan to send its Atlanta-bound pugilists to Uzbekistan, without explaining the reason. The boxers now have Cuba as the only location for their Olympic warm-up.
"I think the cancellation is risky because we may lose our chance to get used to the European brawling style," coach Daniel Bahari said.
Daniel, father of Pino and Nemo Bahari, two of Indonesia's Olympic boxers, said that the program now is concentrating on physical training at the base camp of the Indonesian Army's Special Force in Cijantung, East Jakarta.
He said that boxers should fly to Cuba before May 26, the opening of the international Cordova Cardin boxing championships.
Indonesian boxers will gain great experiences by taking part in the championships, Daniel said. (05)