KONI asks for athletes' personal Olympic targets

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has urged 11 sports organizations, whose athletes are preparing for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney in September, to set maximum targets in the quadrennial event.

"By August, athletes must be able to set the highest targets they expect to reach in the Olympics. They should also achieve the maximum technical and physical conditions needed to compete in the event," said executive training program director Imron ZS on Wednesday.

Imron pointed to women's tennis player Wynne Prakusya, who is still expecting a wild card from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Olympics Committee (IOC), saying that KONI would not insist upon her reaching the Olympics main draw.

"We don't have high expectations for her to win any medals as it has been difficult for her to qualify. But she must set her own target anyway," he said after a meeting with five sports organizations.

ITF will announce 48 names who will likely go to the Olympics main draw on July 12. On Aug. 10, the federation will announce 18 wild card receivers, while on Aug. 16, ITF will call special players invited to compete in the event.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Wynne, who is now in the world top 160s, managed to cruise into the second round of the US$140,000 Tashkent Open women's tennis tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Wynne beat Karin Kschwendt of Austria 6-4, 6-0.

Separately, Hadi Nazri, deputy in charge of athletes' development at the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), said the association was considering a changeover in its officials' composition in July.

"After we evaluate our team's performances in the Thomas and Uber Cup championships, we will study the possibility of the changeover, which will include the team's coaches," he said.

Hadi declined, however, to name any officials to be replaced.

He also said PBSI would stage weekly simulations for the Olympic-trained shuttlers beginning in July.

"The simulations might be held each Friday in Jakarta. But we have yet to decide whether we will use the indoor stadium or the indoor tennis courts at the Senayan sports complex."

Hadi said PBSI would send non-Olympics qualifiers to compete in the Thailand Open badminton championships which start on July 2 while the qualifiers would focus on their performances in the Indonesia Open from July 19 to July 23 at the Senayan stadium. (ivy)