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.