Indonesian karatekas eye seven golds

By Ivy Susanti

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, known to dominate karate events among Southeast Asian (SEA) Games participants, is keeping a low profile on its target in the 20th Games in Brunei Darussalam by hoping to win only seven of the 19 golds at stake.

The figure is half of what Indonesian karatekas took home in the 1997 Games when they grabbed 14 gold medals.

Secretary-general of the Indonesian Karate-Do Federation (FORKI) Hendardji Soepandji said FORKI wanted to keep a low profile and did not want to burden its karatekas with a target.

Despite the low target, national athletes will also likely face bias judging, especially in kata events, at the biennial event from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

Kumite coach Dicky Budi Setiawan said it would be difficult to predict which athletes would win gold medals.

"Some karatekas, like Umar (Syarif) and Isfan (Tanjung), are good players and have equal opportunities with other countries' athletes. We also have a chance to win golds in the men's and women's team kata," he said.

Umar Syarif won a gold medal in the open class and was selected as best player in the Danish Open karate championship in Copenhagen in May. Another gold went to Arif Taufan Syamsuddin, the 1998 Asiad gold medalist, in the under 60-kilogram division. Isfan Rahfisal Tanjung earned a bronze in the under 55kg class.

Women's kata coach, Christine Taroreh, said Indonesia could win golds in men's and women's individual kata.

"Our men's individual kata karatekas still dominate the Games. Tough contenders will only come from the Philippines," she said.

In the 1997 Games, Aswan Ali won a gold in the men's individual kata, while senior Abdullah Kadir earned a gold in the 1993 SEA Games in Singapore and a bronze in the 1998 Asiad.

Christine named the Philippines and Malaysia as the women's individual kata athletes strongest opponents to grab the gold.

She also said men's and women's kata teams also have a chance to contribute a gold.

"In the Ladies Cup tournament in Japan, our kata athletes' skills are more advanced than the Malaysians. But in Brunei, they will surely go all out in performance," she said.

FORKI will announce its karatekas' names before the technical meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, one day prior to the competition. Karate will take place from Aug. 8 to Aug. 11.

Speaking on bias judging, Dicky said he had ordered his 26 kumite karatekas to conduct fair play during the competition to avoid subjectivity.

"We are not focusing on the possibility of bias judging. If we fight fair, we can avoid bias judging," he said.

Dicky said host Brunei Darussalam would certainly want to avoid any scandal from occurring and asked the regional karate-do federation to field neutral referees.

"I heard Japanese referees, who are supposed to be neutral, will come to Brunei. We believe the organizers will be sportsmanlike or they will get sanctioned. Besides, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is looking at the possibility of featuring the sport in the 2004 Olympics Games. I think the organizers will be fair," he said.

Men's kata coach, Sagitarius, said kata karatekas should display outstanding technical skills and a fighting spirit.

He said referees would judge five items in a kata karateka performance: his or her technical skills, power and speed, rhythm, expression and breathing.

"The five elements should produce a beautiful movement. But technical skills and power and speed are the main determinants. Referees could minus a point if a kata player stands unsteady," he said.

Karate team members

Men's team:

Kumite: Isfan Rahfisal Tanjung and Idris T. Gusti (-55kg), Iwan Taher and Arif Taufan S. (-60kg), Moh. Hasan Basri and Yan Pieter (-65kg), Syamsuddin and Sonny Simangasing (-70kg), Indra Gunawan and Rajiun Laode (-75kg), M. Rizal and Robert Karly (-80kg), Umar Syarif and J. Buce Hukunala (+80kg), Novilus Yoku and Sumarto (open weight class)

Individual kata: Abdullah Kadir, Aswan Ali (substitute)

Team kata: Elias Tande, Wahyu Widayat

Women's team:

Kumite: Lia Nurlianti and Leni Sartika (-48kg), Sandra Aryani and Nawangsih (-53kg), Adelia Marliana and Silvy Ayal (-60kg), Ferdiana and Jeanne Taroreh (+60kg), Nilawati Daud and Christine Gani (open weight class)

Individual kata: Omita Olga Ompi, Endah Jubaedah

Team kata: Merani Mega Sjaukat, Fitria Mega Sjaukat, Endang Trimurti Wulandari