Indonesian 'wushu' team eyes 6 SEA Games golds
Indonesian 'wushu' team eyes 6 SEA Games golds
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's wushu team is eying six gold medals
in the forthcoming SEA Games here, according to one of the
sport's officials.
Supandi Kusuma, a wushu trainer said in Medan that he was
optimistic of achieving the target after observing the athletes'
success in a number of international events in 1995 and 1996.
"The target of six golds at the Jakarta Games was also set by
the Indonesian Sports Council. Eighteen golds are on offer in
wushu and we hope the remaining 12 golds will be distributed
between Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines," Antara quoted
Supandi as saying Thursday.
Supandi also said that among the countries participating in
the wushu matches at the Games this October, Thailand is
Indonesia's biggest rival. "We hope no medals will be won by
Thailand in wushu."
For the coming Games, Supandi said the country's top five
wushu athletes, all from North Sumatra, are among those selected
to train in Jakarta. They are Jainab, Jelita, Juwita, Juliana and
Jamoga Sidabutar.
Jainab grabbed a silver at the world wushu championships in
Baltimore, U.S.A. Sixty countries took part in the championship.
Meanwhile, 15 of the 25 wushu athletes called to attend the
Games training in Surabaya, East Java, have not shown up yet.
Suryadi Saputra, the wushu team manager for the SEA Games,
said in Surabaya that Wednesday was the deadline for the athletes
to attend the training.
"We received a report that the 15 athletes did not show up for
training because they are still busy at school. We have asked the
sports council for a dispensation for the athletes to skip school
so they can attend the training," Suryadi said.
Suryadi added that no sanctions will be imposed against the 15
wushu athletes who had not attended. "It was the council who
asked the athletes to attend the training and not the Indonesian
Wushu Association. We will consult with the council as to what
action has to be taken against these athletes."
Taekwondo
The Indonesian Taekwando Association will not send its players
overseas as part of their training but instead will bring in
foreign teams to compete with the local taekwandoins.
Association official Rusid Faisal Siregar said the association
is planning to bring in a team of South Korean taekwondoins to
fight local athletes in May.
"Through matches either with foreign taekwondoins or local
athletes, we can evaluate the strength of our athletes who are
preparing for the SEA Games," Rusid said.
Rusid said that only 27 of the 32 taekwondoins selected to
attend training in Cilodong, Bogor, have turned up. The training
began last month under Korean coach Oh Il-nam. Oh is being
assisted by two national coaches, Zulkifli and Dasantio Pribadi.
Commenting on the number of taekwondo gold medals being
targeted by Indonesia at the SEA Games, Rusid said the
association expected the athletes to win more than five. (lnt)
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's wushu team is eying six gold medals
in the forthcoming SEA Games here, according to one of the
sport's officials.
Supandi Kusuma, a wushu trainer said in Medan that he was
optimistic of achieving the target after observing the athletes'
success in a number of international events in 1995 and 1996.
"The target of six golds at the Jakarta Games was also set by
the Indonesian Sports Council. Eighteen golds are on offer in
wushu and we hope the remaining 12 golds will be distributed
between Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines," Antara quoted
Supandi as saying Thursday.
Supandi also said that among the countries participating in
the wushu matches at the Games this October, Thailand is
Indonesia's biggest rival. "We hope no medals will be won by
Thailand in wushu."
For the coming Games, Supandi said the country's top five
wushu athletes, all from North Sumatra, are among those selected
to train in Jakarta. They are Jainab, Jelita, Juwita, Juliana and
Jamoga Sidabutar.
Jainab grabbed a silver at the world wushu championships in
Baltimore, U.S.A. Sixty countries took part in the championship.
Meanwhile, 15 of the 25 wushu athletes called to attend the
Games training in Surabaya, East Java, have not shown up yet.
Suryadi Saputra, the wushu team manager for the SEA Games,
said in Surabaya that Wednesday was the deadline for the athletes
to attend the training.
"We received a report that the 15 athletes did not show up for
training because they are still busy at school. We have asked the
sports council for a dispensation for the athletes to skip school
so they can attend the training," Suryadi said.
Suryadi added that no sanctions will be imposed against the 15
wushu athletes who had not attended. "It was the council who
asked the athletes to attend the training and not the Indonesian
Wushu Association. We will consult with the council as to what
action has to be taken against these athletes."
Taekwondo
The Indonesian Taekwando Association will not send its players
overseas as part of their training but instead will bring in
foreign teams to compete with the local taekwandoins.
Association official Rusid Faisal Siregar said the association
is planning to bring in a team of South Korean taekwondoins to
fight local athletes in May.
"Through matches either with foreign taekwondoins or local
athletes, we can evaluate the strength of our athletes who are
preparing for the SEA Games," Rusid said.
Rusid said that only 27 of the 32 taekwondoins selected to
attend training in Cilodong, Bogor, have turned up. The training
began last month under Korean coach Oh Il-nam. Oh is being
assisted by two national coaches, Zulkifli and Dasantio Pribadi.
Commenting on the number of taekwondo gold medals being
targeted by Indonesia at the SEA Games, Rusid said the
association expected the athletes to win more than five. (lnt)