Indonesia's quest for gold at Asiad
By Dwiamanta
JAKARTA (JP): History always repeats itself, but it is uncertain when Indonesia will emulate its glorious performance 32 years ago in the Asian Games.
It was at the fourth Games in 1962 when Indonesia, playing host to Asia's biggest sporting extravaganza for the first time, carved out a piece of national history by nabbing second spot behind longtime sport giant Japan.
Nobody had ever expected such a feat. The national team had returned home without a single gold medal in the previous three meets and was seated 14th out of 16 in 1958.
Who would have thought that Asia's fastest man named Mohamad Sarengat came from a country which was battling against poverty and political rifts? No one imagined that a team which had never earned more than a bronze medal could turn the competition of 2,500 athletes from 17 countries into a gold harvest.
The fourth Asiad is a sweet memory. Fiery crowds cheered Sarengat, who burst into tears after dashing to a record-breaking time of 10.50 for the gold.
Sports mad fans also gave a standing ovation to their shuttlers who laid the runway towards world supremacy in badminton by sweeping all the singles titles.
The heroic atmosphere sparked by Indonesia's quest over Irian Jaya (then known as West Papua) in the 1960s was an obvious morale booster for the 333-strong team. A medal collection of 11 gold, 12 silver and 28 bronze were just a token, because national pride and prestige were achievements worth more than the Games.
"Let's build an honorable nation which stands eye to eye with others, a joyous nation," President Sukarno exclaimed, vigorously encouraging the athletes undergoing rigorous training in Bandung, West Java.
No pain no gain. The Indonesian government earmarked an overwhelming Rp 1.1 billion for the Games, a large sum for an underdeveloped country. The biggest portion of the budget went to constructing new sport facilities, including the 100,000-seat Senayan stadium.
Diplomatic disputes over late invitations to Israel and Taiwan, which finally prevented them from attending, marred the Games. But it did not deter the host team from stealing the show.
Set back
As political euphoria faded and competition increased, Indonesia failed to ever again finish among the top five. The world's fifth most populous country looked like an overly full giant who fell into a long lull.
The 1966 Asiad in Bangkok was the starting point of a long gold medal drought. Only badminton and tennis saved Indonesia from leaving the competitions red faced.
Many blamed the national team's shoddy preparations. Indonesian athletes, undergoing only a three-month training session due to financial restraints, finished ninth at the 1970 event in Bangkok.
In fact, economic development was the country's primary choice after 1968 which left sport on the periphery.
Just by chance, when the oil bonanza swept Indonesia, the national team left the eighth Asiad in Bangkok in 1978 with an encouraging medal collection of eight gold, seven silver and 18 bronze.
The medals earned Indonesia only the seventh spot. At the same time China showed its teeth as the one to dethrone Japan. The awaking giant China, making its second appearance, sat firmly as the runner-up.
The continent had to wait only four years to see China take the crown from Japan. No one has ever stopped the country of a billion people from dominating the Games since then. China has followed the Games' motto of Ever Onward.
A different fate remained for Indonesia. China and Indonesia, two countries with huge populations, stand at opposite ends of the field. When China hauled in 94 gold in 1986, Indonesia merely managed one. Four years ago in Beijing, China topped the table with 138 gold while Indonesia finished a distant seventh with three gold.
Sixth place
It will take Indonesia tireless effort to regain its heyday. A realistic -- but unfortunately not popular -- program on national sports development called Garuda Emas was initiated in 1990. As China is too far ahead to match, the project suggests a step-by- step approach. Finishing fourth in Asiad 2002 is its main goal.
The upcoming Oct. 2-16 Games in Hiroshima will serve as a testing ground for the program. A 139-strong team, which cost Indonesia a whopping Rp 6 billion (US$2.8 million), will take on the challenge of placing sixth out of 34 teams.
The national sports governing body (KONI) has predicted that the nation's shuttlers, who won Olympic laurels in 1992 and the prestigious Thomas Cup and Uber Cup this year, will find Hiroshima a gold mine.
"Badminton is our best hope, but all athletes have to fulfill their pledges to bring home medals," said KONI chief Surono, adding that five teams from former Soviet Union republics will be the toughest hurdles in Indonesia's bid.
If a 10-month training stint means anything, finishing sixth is by all means in sight.