Irian to send 19 fighters to PON

JAYAPURA (JP): The Irian Jaya chapter of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) will send 19 fighters to the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya, East Java.

The chapter's chairman Ishak Montolalu said he had not set a medal target for his team. "But all the fighters must try their best in every match. Just wait and see what the result will be," he told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He said the 19 fighters had been chosen because they had won 12 gold medals, one silver and six bronzes in the prequalifying round for PON here in January.

He said that his team would increase their physical training and technical skills. "We hope they can contribute some medals for Papua province," he added.

The House of Representatives is expected to officially change the province's name from Irian Jaya to Papua.(eba)