Indonesian team set to swallow SEAG bitter pill
Indonesian team set to swallow SEAG bitter pill
CHIANG MAI, Thailand (JP): The 18th Southeast Asian Games still have four days to go, but defending champion Indonesia is already preparing itself for defeat.
Indonesian sports official Mohammad Hindarto said during the women's tennis team final on Tuesday that the National Sports Council had been anticipating such an outcome, in view of the Thais' superb performance since the start of the biennial event last weekend.
"I would not be surprised if Thailand conquered Indonesia here. They are very keen to triumph, not only because they want to give their king a special gift on the 50th anniversary of his coronation. They were actually better prepared than us," Hindarto said.
Hindarto heads the sports council's training and development department.
Thailand quickly raced ahead from the opening day of competition on Sunday. The host athletes appeared to stand head- and-shoulders above defending overall champion Indonesia. As of Tuesday, Thailand had gained 56 golds to soar to 31-gold lead over closest rival Indonesia.
The host team is aiming to win more than 100 golds to claim its second overall champion title at the Games. Thailand beat Indonesia for the first time in 1985 when Bangkok hosted the Games.
"We are not going to look for a scapegoat if we lose. Instead, we have to admit that Thailand is better than us. We will return home with a lot of homework to be done," said Hindarto.
Indonesia will host the biennial event in 1997.
Hindarto played down mounting allegations by some Indonesian coaches that Thailand has used any means to gain victory.
He said that Indonesian athletes underwent a Herculean training stint ever in the run-up to the Games, but that, "unfortunately, Thailand's athletes were more diligent in adhering to their training programs. They have left us far behind," Hindarto said.
Thailand started grooming its sportsmen and women for the current Games shortly after the conclusion of the 1993 Games.
"They set their sights on higher achievement in the 1998 Asian Games while they were training for the SEA Games," Hindarto said.
Indonesia kicked off its training program for the Games only in April this year.
Learning
Thailand is hosting the SEA Games in Chiang Mai, 700 kilometers north of Bangkok, in conjunction with the city's 700th anniversary, which falls next year. The Thai government provided no less than five billion baht (US$208 million) for the Games. Preparations included the building of a new sports complex.
Hindarto said Indonesia should learn from Thailand about the manner in which preparations should be made for such a major event big event. He added that national athletes should be told: "Don't feel ashamed to follow in Thailand's footsteps."
"Close cooperation between the government and sports institutions should be forged if we take our sports performance seriously," he said.
He added that the sports council, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports had initiated a "back-to-basics" talent-scouting program which will target elementary schools as the key to Indonesia's sports future.
The plan includes an overhaul of the Ragunan Athletes School in South Jakarta.
"We will tightly restrict the school's pupils to those who have great potential in sports, beginning in 1997," Hindarto said.
The council also hopes to discover new talent in every corner of Indonesia, he added. (amd)