Indonesian hockey needs artificial-grass field

Indonesian hockey needs artificial-grass field

JAKARTA (JP): Field hockey in Indonesia is missing one thing
-- a good field.

Primadi Tabarani of the Indonesian Field Hockey Association
told The Jakarta Post that Indonesia desperately needs an
artificial-grass field to develop the sport in Indonesia.

The International Olympic Committee ruled out play on natural
grass since the 1976 Games in Montreal.

"Until today Indonesia still does not have such a field," said
Primadi, who heads up the association's department of research
and development.

Primadi, who is also the chairman of the West Java Hockey
Association, blamed the absence for the sport's failure to
develop here.

"All this time we've practiced on natural grass. But every
time we have to participate in international tournaments it's
difficult to adjust to the artificial turf," he said after
speaking with the National Sports Council.

Primadi said that other countries routinely refuse invitations
to come and play here because of the conditions.

"The situation results in our athletes losing experience
because they don't have enough matches against other countries
here and abroad," he said.

Rajkumar Singh, chairman of the association, told the Post
that he hopes the association's patron, the Texmaco textile
company, would provide a new field.

"Although we haven't received any official information, we
hope they can provide at least one international standard field,"
he said.

Both officials said that if Indonesia wants to hold field
hockey matches in the upcoming SEA Games here, the country has to
have a field, which could take six to nine months to set up.

"If Indonesia does not have the field, it won't be picked as
the Asian Games host," Singh said.

Primadi said that field hockey is known in Asia, but not very
popular here. Since the 1960s, hockey has not been played at many
elementary and high schools here.

"In many Asian countries, field hockey is taught in elementary
schools and at military academies. But here only several high
schools and academies have hockey teams," he said.

However, Singh said the association does not have any problem
with a supply of players.

"Many students are interested in hockey even though it's not
popular here," he said.

Indonesia won the field hockey bronze in the 17th Southeast
Asian Games in Singapore in 1993. At the last SEA Games,
Indonesia was banned from taking part in the Games. (05)