Juana qualifies for 2000 Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): Taekwon Doin Juana Wangsa Putri qualified for the 2000 Olympics Games after reaching the semifinals in the world pre-qualifying round for the Olympics at Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday.

Secretary-General of the Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI), Ahmad Zarkasih Hamid, said on Saturday that Juana, who fought in the women's 49kg division, would meet Chinese Taipei's Hung Cha Chun in the semis.

Zarkasih told Suara Pembaruan evening daily the semifinal result would not affect Juana's Sydney chances.

Juana defeated Tshering Choki of Bhutan in the first round, Exzles Horvolgyi of Hong Kong in the second round, and Russia's Noa Shinida in the quarterfinals.

The other national Taekwon Doin, Veronika Widyarini, crashed in the first round of the women's 57-67kg division to Holland's Miriam Muskens. In the 58-68kg men's division, Indonesian Dominggus Boro was scheduled to meet home crowd favorite Hryola Breges on Saturday.(ivy)