Indonesian judokas set for Korean camp

Indonesian judokas set for Korean camp

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian judokas, now preparing for the 2002 Asian Games, will
opt for an intensive training workout in the Games' hall as they
plan to see out the remaining time training in South Korea.

The Asian Games are scheduled to start its two-week
competition in Busan on Sept. 29, in which the Indonesian
sporting delegation will send around 100 athletes to compete in
19 sporting events.

The national judo body is grooming four athletes: Endang Sri
Lestari (women's under 57 kilograms division), Dwi Simanto (men's
under 90), I Wayan Sutikno (men's under 73) and Aprilia Marzuki
(women's under 70).

Aprilia takes her training in Germany under the guidance of
Alfredo Palermo.

The Korean workout aims for the athletes to further polish
their skills as well as acclimatize themselves to the local
conditions, according to Indonesian Judo Association ( PJSI)
secretary-general, Aji Kusmantri.

The training program will run for almost two months from
August. PJSI has yet to decide the date when the proteges start
the program pending to an official endorsement expected from the
National Sports Council (KONI).

"We will wait for KONI's announcement about the number of
athletes PJSI is allowing to send to the Asian Games. Hopefully,
the current four will proceed," Aji said.

Korean Lee Byung-uk will supervise PJSI's outing program,
during which, according to Aji, the athletes will be given the
chance of competing in local tournaments and sparring with strong
athletes from a number of judo clubs.

Lee led Indonesian judo team to an overall gold medal winner
at the 1987 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Jakarta.

"I think we should not doubt his coaching reputation. After
his stint here, the athletes should not have no problems with
him," Aji said.

Asked about the medal prospect, Aji said that he will keep his
hopes realistic, provided that the draw favored them. "Hopefully,
our athletes will be drawn against less strong opponents in the
early stages and then we may probably can expect a place in the
semifinals," he said.

Earlier on the day, an Indonesian team made up of seven
athletes outside the Asian hopefuls bade farewell to the National
Sports Council (KONI) before its departure to the Vietnam Open.

The athletes, who come from Jakarta and Central Java, are
going to Vietnam "to test their skills after undergoing training
ahead of the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam and the 2004 National
Sports Championship (PON) in Palembang, South Sumatra." he added.

"The Vietnam Open has been becoming tougher and tougher each
year. And that's good for a tryout," Indriana Kusnadi, one of the
coaches, said.

The event will last for two days from Aug. 2 to Aug. 3.