KONI to propose 11 sports for 2001 SE Asian Games
KONI to propose 11 sports for 2001 SE Asian Games
JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will propose
11 sports to feature in the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in
Kuala Lumpur.
KONI secretary-general Rudolf S. Warouw named the 11 sports as
wrestling, judo, fencing, rowing and canoeing, softball, table
tennis, archery, soft tennis, equestrian events, water skiing and
beach volleyball.
Warouw said host Malaysia would likely name 25 sports -- track
and field, swimming, gymnastics, shooting, indoor volleyball,
basketball, hockey, soccer, sepak takraw, cycling, weightlifting,
windsurfing, karate, pencak silat, boxing, wushu, tae kwon do,
badminton, tennis, squash, billiard and snooker, golf, bowling,
net ball and lawn ball -- to feature in the biennial event.
Warouw said the proposal would be discussed in the SEA Games
Federation council meeting in Kuala Lumpur from March 9 to March
12, which he will attend. Warouw will be accompanied by KONI vice
chairman Harsuki and official in charge of foreign affairs Indra
Kartasasmita.
"We will also hear other countries' proposals to know which
countries want the same sports that we do featured in the event,"
he said.
KONI called sports organization officials to attend a meeting
early this week to discuss the country's preparation for the
Games.
Warouw said KONI aimed to win the overall title after
Indonesia was relegated to third place in the 1999 Games in
Brunei Darussalam.
Indonesia only brought home 44 golds, 43 silvers and 58
bronzes, far from overall champion Thailand with 65 golds, 48
silvers and 56 bronzes and runner-up Malaysia with 57 golds, 45
silvers and 42 bronzes.
Warouw said KONI would have to lobby other participating
countries so that the sports in which Indonesia had a strong
possibility of winning medals were included in the event.
"We have to learn from our experience in Chiang Mai where
there were some sports featured despite their absence from
international sports federation rules," he said.
However, Warouw was surprise that the council meeting was held
before the federation sports committee meeting.
"Usually, the SEA Games Federation stages the sports committee
meeting first before the council meeting. I will have to call the
federation official on the matter," he said.
"If the federation were to stage the sports committee meeting
first, KONI would most likely send the official in charge of
athletes development, Mochammad Hindarto, to attend it," he
added.
KONI will need nearly Rp 100 billion to train 1,297 athletes
for nearly two years to fulfill its ambition to be the overall
champion. It also plans to send athletes for tryouts on two
occasions. Only 60 percent of the 1,297 will be in the SEA Games
contingent. (yan)