KONI gives financial support to archers

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will give financial aid worth Rp 33 million (US$3,670) to the Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani) to help it send three female archers and two coaches to warm up in the South Korea National Archery Championships prior to the Olympic Games in Sydney in September.

Olympics training director Arie Sudewo said on Thursday that the money would be used for transportation costs for Hamdiah, Nurfitriyana Lantang and Lusia Elizabeth Sumampouw, who are being groomed for the quadrennial event.

South Korean coach Lee Kang-hyun and one more coach will travel with the archers to the championships, which will begin on Aug. 12.

Except for Hamdiah, the other three archers are still waiting for accreditation to compete in the women's team of the International Archery Federation (FITA) round.

"Based on the rules, each athlete will receive $900 for overseas tournaments before the Olympics. But we are still looking at whether the archers really need two coaches to go with them," he said.

"We only provide Rp 33 million, despite their actual need of Rp 100 million. Perpani has to seek the remaining Rp 67 million."

Arie said the money was allocated to the archery team as female weightlifters, who have also qualified for the Olympics, did not have overseas events prior to the Games.

"The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) will warm up at home. But the officials have yet to decide both the venues and the tournament. They need support from KONI but the amount will be less than if they went overseas," he said.

Perpani Secretary-General Udi Harsono said earlier that the association had collected $2,000 of $6,600 needed to finance the team for South Korea.

Arie said former PABBSI secretary-general Djoko Pramono would still head the weightlifting team at the Olympics.

"Pak Djoko remains the Olympic's team manager although he is no longer an official of the organization. He said earlier that he was still committed to developing this sport," he said.

Arie said that by August, the weightlifting training program would be centered in Jakarta and Lampung.

"Sri Indriyani and Winarni will remain in Lampung while Lisa Rumbewas, who has been training in South Kalimantan, will move to Jakarta to train here along with Supeni," he said. (ivy)