Indonesians triumphant in world boat race

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's traditional boat racing team has won "The Best Nation" title at the Second World Dragon Boat Championships.

Indonesia won six gold medals and one silver medal from eight events at the championships, held on Hong Kong's Shing Mun River from June 12 to June 15.

Indonesia's Dji Sam Soe men's team won gold in the 1,000 meter and 250 meter events. The Djajanti-Gaya Wahana Timber women's team took golds in the 1000 meters and 250 meter events and silver in the 500 meter race.

Indonesia's mixed team won gold in the 500 meter and 250 meter events.

"We're so proud of the results," Indonesian Rowing Association secretary-general Budiman Setiawan said. "And as they improved, we expect them to grab more medals at the 19th Southeast Asian Games in October, which will help the country in its bid to take the overall title from Thailand."

Indonesia hopes to win 24 gold medals in the 31 events at the Games. The country made a clean sweep in rowing at the last Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, by winning all seven golds.

The chairman of the National Sports Council, Wismoyo Arismunandar, welcomed the athletes at a meeting with the council yesterday.

"I really want to give them my appreciation," he said. "I don't only want to give them money, but I'll try hard to get them to meet President Soeharto," he said.

The athletes said after winning that they would like to meet the President soon.

The chairman of the Indonesian rowing association, Basoeki, said "it's up to Wismoyo. Our athletes really want to meet the President."

He said the association would not be able to give the rowers a bonus as it had to look for sponsors to send them to the championships.

PT HM Sampoerna's brand manager, Jeffrey Chandra, said he could not say if the company would give bonuses to the athletes.

"The results were very surprising. We have to talk to the management if we want to continue the cooperation. There's a possibility that Sampoerna will be the association's sponsor," he said.

Wismoyo said he hoped the business cooperation between sports organizations and companies would continue.

"If the sponsored athletes can produce their best results, the company image will be known to the public. It's a mutual cooperation," he said.

Water skiing

Earlier yesterday Wismoyo visited Sunter Lake, which will host the water skiing at the Games.

Water skiing training director A. Munaris said the Indonesian Water Skiing Association still had problems concerning the venue, athletes' accommodation and equipment.

"The Sunter lake is polluted from the Sunter river. The association is working with the Jakarta public works agency to clean up the lake," he said.

The association expects the council to solve the problems and will visit the training once a week.

Munaris said the association was having financial problems.

"The association needs Rp 220 million (US$91,287) to send its six male and six female skiers to Sun Lake city in California.

"They will undergo a five-week overseas stint from June 28," he said.

For the Southeast Asian Games, Munaris said the association was aiming to win two of the six golds on offer. (yan)