Indonesia upset over SEA Games rule changes
PURWAKARTA, West Java (JP): More rule changes for the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in December may deal a severe blow to Indonesia's title defense prospects.
National coach Budiman Setiawan said yesterday that some strange changes to the rules applying to the traditional boat races had been conveyed by the SEA Games Organizing Committee to National Sports Council Chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.
"The committee has unilaterally decided to provide unusual sculls and to field more starters in the competition," Budiman told a meeting with Wismoyo and his entourage, who were visiting the centralized training camp of the national SEA Games traditional boat race team at the Jatiluhur dam complex.
Budiman said that participating rowers will use heavier and longer oars with which Thai and Myanmarese rowers are quite familiar. The organizing committee will also quadruple the starters by placing a starter in each of the four lanes.
The rule changes in traditional boat races follow a series of confusing modifications in track and field, gymnastics and cycling announced by the organizing committee. Host Thailand, worried about traffic jams, has dropped walking races but given the go-ahead to the marathon. Cyclists will not be permitted to compete in both track and road races.
In gymnastics, the organizers will offer seven gold medals in rhythmic disciplines. The Asian Games and the Olympic Games award only a single gold medal in rhythmic disciplines.
"We may shrug off the longer sculls if we get used to them during the remaining months. But having numerous starters in the same race will be unfair," Budiman said.
The Indonesian Rowing Association has written to the organizers asking them to provide further details about the changes. No response, however, has been received.
Wismoyo, who patiently listened to the complaints, ordered his staff, led by training director Moch. Hindarto, to question the changes with the organizing committee.
"There should a limit to the changes," Wismoyo said.
Belief
Budiman, however, said that despite the disadvantageous rules, his 25 men and 15 women rowers would snatch at least four of the seven gold medals at stake.
Indonesia romped home with three out of the four traditional boat race golds up for grabs at the 1993 Games in Singapore.
The world dragon boat champion team will spearhead Indonesia's campaign in the men's races. The national scullers shaved two seconds off the world dragon boat race record of 2.27 seconds set by China in Hong Kong in June.
The women scullers will make their debut at the SEA Games in Chiang Mai. "Our female rowers have a fairly good chance of winning gold medals," Budiman said.
Secretary-General of the Indonesian Gymnastics Association Sri Hastuti Mardiko said she shared Budiman's concern, but said she would not lodge any protest with the organizing committee.
"The best thing is for us to adjust to the new rules. Let them offer gold medals galore. We still have time to prepare our gymnasts," she said.
The association has groomed Yulianti, Novit Sari, Febri Rohayu and Mita Mardiana to focus on rhythmic disciplines. "We are eying individual events, since host Thailand looks unbeatable in team divisions," Tuti said.
Thailand decided to grant more rhythmic gold medals, saying that it wanted to develop the disciplines in Southeast Asia. The gymnastics gold medals will rise to 21 from just 14, thanks to the additional laurels.
Thailand has traditionally fared slightly better than Indonesia in SEA Games gymnastic competitions. In the 1993 games, the Thais bagged eight golds, three better than Indonesia's collection. (amd)