Indonesians triumphant in world boat race

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)