Indonesian lifters to warm up in Qatar before 2002 Asian Games

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Five Indonesian weight lifters will take part in the World Championship in Qatar next May as part of their preparations for the 2002 Asian Games.

The World Championship will be held from May 10 to May 14. Asia's biggest multievent spectacle will take place in Pusan, South Korea, from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14.

Dharma Surya, the chairman of the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI), said the five lifters going to Qatar were Lisa Rumbewas in the women's 48- kilogram division, Sri Indriani (women's 48 kilos), Tanti Pratiwi (women's 58 kilos), Suyudi (men's 56 kilos) and Erwin Abdullah (men's 69 kilos).

They are among the 12 Indonesian weight lifting hopefuls currently training for the Asian Games.

Erwin has dropped down a weight class from 77 kilograms to 69 kilos, with the weight lifting association hoping the move will increase his chances of winning a medal in Pusan.

Lisa also has moved down in weight, from 53 kilograms to 48 kilograms.

"The change of weight classes for both lifters is part of our strategy for the Asian Games. Erwin has gone down to 69 kilograms because he has the best chances in this weight class," Dharma said as quoted by Antara here on Tuesday.

As part of its long-term development, PABBSI plans to send six junior lifters to the Asian Championship in Khahoin, Thailand.

They are Rusdianto from Jambi in the 56-kilogram class, Irwan Sugianto (Jakarta/62 kilos), Eko Santoso (Central Java/69 kilos), Sri Hartati (Lampung/53 kilos), Betty (Lampung/58 kilos) and Ferry (Lampung/53 kilos).

They were selected from among the participants of the recently concluded Youth Tournament in Indramayu, West Java.

The Asian Championship will run from April 24 to April 28, and the six junior lifters are expected to join the training camp of the Asian Games squad by April 14 at the latest.

Dharma said sending the junior lifters to Thailand was the first step in readying them to replace the veteran lifters.

"This is a far-reaching program and must be begun as soon as possible, otherwise we will fall further behind other countries like China," he said.