KONI set to review its Asian Games target

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Governing Body's 1990 program to jack up Indonesia's position to the top four in Asia by the year 2002, might be too optimistic, an official said.

Indonesia's poor showing at the recently concluded Asian Games in Hiroshima and the entrance of five ex-Soviet republics into the Asian sports scene, two of which finished fourth and fifth in Hiroshima, are among reasons cited by Timbul Thomas Lubis, the Governing Body's deputy secretary general, when asked by reporters on Wednesday.

Another reason, according to Timbul, is that up to now, Indonesia still relies heavily on badminton, the only sport in which Indonesia, along with China and South Korea, traditionally share world crowns.

Badminton gave Indonesia its three gold medals in the recent Asian Games in Hiroshima.

Timbul said he questioned Indonesia's ability to earn golds from other sports because, in order to get to Asia's top four, Indonesia must be able to scoop at least 30 golds.

Hosting the 14th Asian Games in the year 2002 could serve as a psychological stimulus to reach the target, Timbul said, referring to the success Indonesia achieved when hosting the fourth Asian Games in 1962 where Indonesia's position leapfrogged to second from the 14th it finished in four years before in Tokyo.

However, Indonesia has to carefully weigh its ability to provide Asian Games-class infrastructures and facilities before applying for becoming a host country, Timbul said, adding that whether or not Indonesia should host the year 2002 Asian Games depended on the government policy.

Jakarta has revealed its bid to play host to the first Asian Games in the second millennium along with Taipei and Pusan in South Korea.

This, Timbul said, will be a topic of discussion at the Governing Body's congress slated for early next year.

The other two topics will be how to ensure sustainable sports development, particularly for certain gold-hauling sports such as badminton whose development should take priority, and how to improve the present sports management. (arf)