Indonesia not likely to make Olympic fencing competition
Indonesia not likely to make Olympic fencing competition
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's prospects of making the Olympic
fencing competition in Atlanta this summer are uncertain, an
official said yesterday.
Eman Sumusi, vice secretary of the Indonesian Fencing
Association, told a hearing of the National Sports Council
yesterday that Indonesia might ask for a wildcard entry to the
Olympics, but strict rules by the council could bar its team from
competing in the world's biggest sporting meet.
"We will bow to the council's decision to pick only potential
medal winners for the Olympics," Eman said.
None of Indonesia's fencers managed to win Olympic berths in
the individual events after finishing well down the field in the
Asia/Oceania zone Olympic qualifying round in Seoul recently.
Only gold medalists at the tournament made it to the Olympics,
scheduled from July 19 to Aug. 4 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Eman said that the Indonesian women's fencers qualified for
the epee team event by taking eighth place. The top 12 teams in
the zonal fencing championships won Olympic berths.
"Let's hope that the world fencing body loosens its ruling,"
Eman said.
When asked about preparations for the 19th Southeast Asian
Games here next year, Eman said that the association is expecting
junior athletes to spearhead the Indonesian fencing team.
Eman said that the teenagers will face their first eligibility
test in the Asian Junior Championships, scheduled here for Aug.
10 to Aug. 15.
Another official, Zus Undap, complained that Indonesia lacks
international fencing umpires. Undap surprised the council as she
said that the country has only four umpires eligible to handle an
international competition like the SEA Games.
"We desperately need more umpires in preparation for the 19th
SEA Games here next year," she said.
Undap said the association will pick more national umpires to
attend a short-term course during the Asian Junior Fencing
Championships.
There are three categories of umpires, A for the Olympics, B
for Asian-level competitions and C for Southeast Asian-level
events.
"The major problem in obtaining the B and C diplomas is
English," Undap said. She also said that Indonesia does not have
any A level umpires due to the requirement to speak French.
(05/amd)