Judo calls up veterans for Cebu campaign
Judo calls up veterans for Cebu campaign
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Judo is relying on experienced athletes in its goal to secure
three golds in the 23rd Southeast Asia (SEA) Games later this
month, although the national association is hopeful of exceeding
its target.
"We expect three golds this year like in the 2003 Games, when
we brought home three golds, four silvers and four bronzes. It
would be good if we get more this year," SEA Games judo manager
Yorry Yance Worang said recently.
He named men's under 100-kilogram judoka Krisna Bayu, 31,
women's under 52-kg Maya Fransiska, 24, and over 78-kg Ira
Purnamasari, 24, as likely to repeat their gold-medal winning
performances from Vietnam in 2003.
He said 2004 Olympian Krisna Bayu was expected to have a
smooth path to gold in the regional multisport championship, to
be held in the Philippines from Nov. 27-Dec. 5. "In Southeast
Asia, I think Krisna Bayu is still number one," he said.
Experience also shows in other selections to the national team
by the Indonesian Judo Association (PJSI), including 2002 Asian
Games women's under 57-kg athlete Endang Sri Lestari, 31, and
men's under 90-kg competitor Dwi Sihmanto are on the team.
Other hopefuls are Toni Irawan (55kg), Eldy Gan (60kg), Peter
Taslim (66kg), Johanes Taslim (73kg), Jimmy Anggoro (81kg), and
Deni Zulfendri (+100) among the men, and Sari Astraviani (45kg),
Yuliati (48kg), Tina Feryani (-63kg), Lutfidyah (70kg) and
Cliffia Sulistio (78) in the women.
Yorri said they were also expected to vie for gold, although
much would depend on the judging of the competition.
Vietnam and the Philippines will be tough opponents to
overcome.
"Vietnam conducts very serious preparation of its athletes,
while the Philippine athletes won't want to be embarrassed at
home and their veteran athletes are also strong," Yorri said.
PJSI sent the 16 athletes to train at two judo academies in
South Korea in September. They trained for two months at Kyung
Min High School under former Asian champion Kim Sung Il and three
Indonesian coaches.
They are now at Keom Kok High School, where they will remain
until departing for Cebu, the site of the judo competition, on
Nov. 25.