Indonesian swimmers join upset Asiad sideliners

Indonesian swimmers join upset Asiad sideliners

JAKARTA (JP): Women's swimmers turned out to be among the 12
athletes dropped from the Indonesian team for the 12th Asian
Games in Hiroshima when the national sports governing body (KONI)
announced the team yesterday.

National pool queen Elsa Manora Nasution and Meitri Widya
Pangestika will miss the continent's biggest sports event,
because of KONI's final judgment that they had little or no
chance of winning medals.

Elsa and Meitri were groomed for relay events during the Games
before the national swimming body (PRSI) changed its mind about
giving them spots.

Elsa set four new national records during her training in
America last month.

"It's a surprise and a disappointment. I feel that both
swimmers are in their top form," coach Raja Nasution told
reporters. However, he added that he would not lodge any protest
with KONI, saying that he was obliged to follow the order.

Indonesia will now bank on its men's team made up of Wisnu
Wardhana, Richard Sambera and Sutanto's brothers of Felix and
Albert.

They have been prepared for the relay events, but both Wisnu
and Richard will be used for individual short-distance events.
"Asian men's swimmers have equal chances. It will take some luck
for them to come out on top," said Raja, who also Elsa's father.

Ten athletes comprising six cyclists, two tennis players, a
bowler and two boxers were also dropped several days after KONI
announced the team lineup on Sept. 26. A cyclist, however, joined
the national squad in the final minutes before the decision.

On Monday, national boxing great Syamsul Anwar criticized a
decision to remove Hendrik Simangunsong and Albert Papilaya, the
country's top boxers, from the squad, following their TKO defeats
in a local tournament in Cuba.

But executive chairman of the national boxing body (Pertina)
Imron ZS strongly defended the option, saying that the two
boxers' form had deteriorated even before they underwent a
training stint in Cuba.

"We gave them a final opportunity by sending them to Cuba, but
they failed to make progress," said Imron. He added that Pertina
would not give them any special privileges because they had big
names.

Slimmer team

The national squad will now include 139 athletes who will
compete in 23 events during the Oct. 2-16 Games. Despite the
drop, KONI chairman Surono expressed his guarded optimism that
Indonesia would improve its medal-tally.

Surono, after swearing in the contingent, admitted that
Indonesia had reconsidered its bid to finish sixth overall. He
said that the five former Soviet Union republics which are making
their Asian Games debut will be strong challengers.

"Our main target now is simply winning more medals, and not to
concentrate on what position we end up with," said Surono. The
Indonesian team of 138 finished seventh overall at the 1990 meet
with three golds, seven silvers and 21 bronzes.

An official in charge of the fund raising program, Soesilo
Soedarman, also said yesterday KONI managed to rack up Rp 600
million (US$277,000) over and above the set budget of Rp 3
billion ($1.38 million) needed to send the athletes and cover
their daily expenses during the two-week competitions.

He added the state-owned Garuda Airways will also provide free
shuttle flight for the contingent. (amd)