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.