KONI gives nod to twelve more athletes in Asiad
KONI gives nod to twelve more athletes in Asiad
JAKARTA (JP): The selection process for national athletes who
will compete in October's Asian Games in Hiroshima continued
yesterday with the national sports governing body (KONI)
reserving 12 more places for athletes in three events.
KONI yesterday endorsed seven men's runners, two men's
cyclists and three riders to form the backbone of the national
squad for the Games during a four-hour meeting with training
directors of the Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI),
the National Cycling Sport Association (ISSI) and the All-
Indonesian Equestrian Association (Pordasi).
Top officials of the Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI)
were slated to attend the meeting, but adjourned the consultation
to this weekend pending the arrival of 11 national swimmers who
recently completed almost two months of overseas training in the
United States.
PASI training director Sediono Rijanto said after the closed-
door meeting that KONI, represented by executive chairman Soeweno
and training director Arnold Lisapaly, recommended five athletes
for the relay events and two marathon men.
The men's relay team will consist of Mardi Lestari, Mohammad
Khodik Juntasi, Ernawan Witarsa and Subakir, with Erwin Heru in
reserve. Indonesia will bank on Eduardus Nabunome and Suyono in
the marathon.
"A change in the number is possible. It will depend on our
athletes' performances during the Singapore Open track and field
meet early next month," Sediono said. He, however, refused to
clarify whether the change would mean an increase or a drop.
Mardi was once Asia's fastest man when he ran 10.24secs at the
1987 National Games to tie the Asian record. He completed a
golden hat-trick at last year's Southeast Asian Games, but has
never equaled his Asian feat.
Meanwhile, ISSI training director Denny Gumulya revealed that
KONI gave a nod to two of the four cycling events he had
proposed.
The events include the sprint and 1,000-meter Individual Time
Trial (ITT). ISSI had previously offered the women's 3,000-meter
ITT and men's Point Race as well.
Denny declined to identify the cyclists, but indicated that
those who performed well during the Asian championships in Ipoh,
Malaysia last December deserve the slots. Suwandra and Kalimanto
took bronzes in the 1,000m ITT and sprint, respectively, at the
cycling meet.
ISSI has been grooming 14 pedalists, two of them women, since
last November. The cycling lineup will be finalized after the
final test in Rawamangun on Aug. 20.
None of Pordasi's officials was willing to comment to the
waiting journalists yesterday.
Japan's golds
Meanwhile, host Japan will shoot for 70 gold medals at the
Games, the head of the Japanese delegation announced Tuesday.
"If Japan is able to win 70 golds, the outcome will be called
a success for us," Yasutaka Matsudaira was quoted by Kyodo news
agency as saying.
"With 70 golds Japan will have a close competition with top
nation China after surpassing South Korea," Matsudaira said. "We
announce this number now after closely analyzing the conditions
of various nations and abilities of athletes."
Last fall, Japan announced a goal of 119 golds after adding up
targets set by all sports bodies, but the country decided to
revise the figure to a more "realistic one."
Japan yielded first place to China for the first time at the
1982 New Delhi Games. Beginning with the 1986 Seoul Games, Japan
has occupied the third spot behind South Korea.
At the 1990 Beijing Games, China won 183 golds, South Korea 54
and Japan 38.
The Hiroshima Asiad will feature 337 medal events in 34
sports, compared to 308 medal events in 27 sports in Beijing.
(amd)