Indonesia's rowing association wants a clean sweep at SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Rowing Association (PODSI) hopes to make a clean sweep of eight golds at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.

PODSI chairman Achmad Sucipto said on Thursday that the rowers held a great chance to win at the Games after they earned three golds and one silver in the pre-Olympics qualifying round in Singapore last week.

PODSI also sent its 50 traditional boat racers to compete in the international dragon boat championships in Chinese Taipei on the weekend. The team left Jakarta on Thursday and will return on June 22.

Achmad said the competition would allow Indonesia to observe other SEA Games participating countries. He named Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines as tough contenders in the biennial event.

The 12 competing countries are from Southeast Asian, the United States, Canada and Australia.

"Our rowers must supervise their contenders' strength during the championships. They also must be able to evaluate their skills because the Jatiluhur dam is not a proper place to train for the traditional boat race," Achmad said.

Separately, National Sports Council (KONI) training director Imron Z.S. said that KONI would held its second physical test in the third and fourth week this month to examine the progress of the athletes' condition.

He said the physical test results, the lab test results and training program reports would be used to evaluate athletes performance before the Games, to be held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

Meanwhile, beach volleyball coach Dennis Taroreh is optimistic that his team's long-term preparation will help it qualify for the Olympics.

"We will try to qualify in the world series which took place in eight countries, so we can place in the world's top 32 and earn a berth for the Olympics," he said.

Four men's beach volleyballers -- Agus Salim who is paired with Irilkhun Sofana and duo Iwan Sumoyo and Anjas Asmara -- will compete in the World Championship series in Europe for a berth in 2000 Olympics Games in Sydney.

Eight countries of Russia, Germany, Norway, Italy, France, Austria, Portugal and Spain will host several legs of the series from June 22 to Aug. 22.

The Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) decided not to send its women's beach volleyballers in the series because they failed to win a medal in the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok last year.

PBVSI also will send its men's indoor volleyballers to compete in a tournament later this month in Fukuoka, Japan, as a replacement tournament because volleyball, both beach and indoor, is not featured at the Games.

The Indonesian Climbing Federation (FPTI) urged KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar to include the sport in next year's National Games in Surabaya.

Wismoyo responded: "I want the best for all national sports. I understand your request. I hope the Games' organizers can feature climbing in the event."

"But if you can't be a world champion, I won't fulfill your request," he said with a laugh.

Climbers Yuyun Yuniar, Ronald Novar Marimbing, Eta Hendrawati and Nurrahman Rosyid said they would compete in the international X-treme Games in San Francisco on June 21.(ivy)