Indonesian lifters to warm up in Qatar before 2002 Asian Games
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.