Indonesian teams ready for Southeast Asian Games battle
Indonesian teams ready for Southeast Asian Games battle
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian sportsmen and women are all ready to
fight it out for glory in the 18th Southeast Asian Games in
Chiang Mai, Thailand next month.
"Our athletes have made a lot of improvement during the
training sessions. They just need to maintain their form now,"
training director of the National Sports Council, Moch. Hindarto,
said yesterday.
"Considering that the training program is running as smoothly
as expected, there is no doubt that victory is within our reach,"
he said.
The council held a public hearing yesterday with national
sport figures to discuss the national team's preparedness for the
games. Former chairman of the council, Surono, and former
secretary general Dadang Soeprayogi attended the gathering.
Indonesia will deploy around 480 athletes during the games,
slated for Dec. 9 to 17 at Thailand's second largest city. They
will take part in 26 out of 28 sports contested, missing field
hockey and rugby.
Thailand handed Indonesia its first defeat ever in Bangkok 10
years ago, and has pledged to score another win at home.
All but one of the sports organizations have submitted their
respective team line-ups to the council. Judo is expected to
complete its selection before the council announces the national
SEA Games squad next week.
"Our athletes' desire to win surprises me. Even such a non-
potential team as water polo pledges to give us a medal,"
Hindarto said.
The centralized training program for the games will end early
in December. Several teams, including cycling, basketball, table
tennis and judo, are undergoing their overseas stint.
Chairman of the council, Wismoyo Arismunandar, agreed with
Hindarto, saying that the council had long prepared a systematic
planning to win in Chiang Mai.
"We have done everything to back our campaign in Chiang Mai,
including a plan to deploy supporters during competitions there,"
Wismoyo said.
The council also plans to put up a 15-kilometer banner
containing signatures of local supporters when the national team
leaves for Thailand on Dec. 5. People from 314 towns throughout
the country are expected to put their morale-boosting signatures
on the banner.
"Our athletes' victory depends much on their morale," Wismoyo
said.
The Army will help the council unfurl the banner which is
expected to span from the council's headquarters to Halim
Perdanakusuma airport. (amd)