Indonesia to send synchronized divers to train in China

Indonesia to send synchronized divers to train in China

JAKARTA (JP): With the new event of synchronized diving to be
featured at the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games,
the Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) plans to send athletes
to train in China next year.

Coach Harly Ramayani told reporters on Tuesday, after
attending a meeting with the National Sports Council (KONI), that
the federation stressed the need of overseas training for the new
event as Indonesia does not yet have the equipment.

"Synchronized diving needs double towers which we can't
provide right now. Therefore, we aim to send them to China for
training to improve their performance prior to the Games," said
Harly, who is also PRSI deputy in charge of the diving committee.

Harly said four athletes were being groomed for the new event.
They are Nany Suryani and Eka Purnama Indah in the women's side
and Nasrullah and Husaini Nur in the men's side.

Another eight athletes were under intensive training for other
diving events.

"Some of the divers are newcomers. PRSI has called young
divers Denis Harimukti and Treviani Dias of East Java to join the
centralized training."

"The reason for staging the centralized training in Senayan is
because it is the only good diving facility in Indonesia," she
said.

Harly declined to comment on the PRSI target in diving for the
Games.

"I can only talk about our chances after we have the core team
in June. We will only have eight divers including the
synchronized divers. You'll have to wait until then," she said.

"But I can say that our divers will face tough competition
from Malaysian divers who have equal skills. They have the
advantage of being coached by five Chinese coaches. Divers from
Thailand and the Philippines are also a threat."

Separately, the Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi)
executive director, Sri Sudono Sumarto, said that they would use
a different approach to set the national team.

"We don't have to set up centralized training while the
players are playing for their respective clubs during the
Indonesian Basketball League (Kobatama). The league is a good
training ground for them," he said.

"The players can be selected based on their performance during
the league. Then we will we conduct the centralized training."

Sudono admitted that there were difficulties in arranging the
schedules between the league's competition schedule and the
national team training programs.

Meanwhile, David Sitorus of the Indonesian Bowling Association
(PBI) told The Jakarta Post that 30 bowlers are being prepared in
a current decentralized training phase for the SEA Games.

"The bowlers are from East Kalimantan, Jakarta, Riau, South
Sumatra, West Java, and West Sumatra. They have been training in
their own provinces since May," he said over the phone.

"We'll have a selection in January or February to start the
centralized phase. The final team will consist of six bowlers
each in the men's and women's division."

"There will be an equal composition. It would be better if we
could have an all-junior team for the purpose of regeneration.
The junior bowlers would then be able to compete with their
seniors."

Speaking about the target, David said Indonesia aimed at
achieving two gold medals out of 12 events. The medals are
expected from the men's team-of-five and women's single events.
Other events are doubles, trios, all-event and masters events.

"Our main contender is Malaysia which is at its height
nowadays. Singapore can also pose a threat. On the other hand,
the Philippines' bowlers are declining," he said. (nvn)