KONI to send 151 athletes to Asiad

KONI to send 151 athletes to Asiad

JAKARTA (JP): Amid a Rp 1.4 billion (US$646,050) deficit and
after some delay, the national sports governing body (KONI) has
decided to send 151 athletes in 23 sports -- including three in
non-Olympic events -- to the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima in
October.

KONI executive Suweno said that the organization expects to
win a minimum of four gold medals at Asia's biggest sporting
event, all in badminton. Indonesia, which won the Thomas and Uber
Cups recently, is currently the world's leading badminton
powerhouse.

Suweno added that KONI hopes to take home more medals than at
the last Asiad in Beijing in 1992. At that time Indonesia
finished seventh on the medals table with three golds, six
silvers and 21 bronzes.

The top six in 1992 were China, South Korea, Japan, North
Korea, Iran and Pakistan. Countries formerly in the Soviet Union
did not participate then.

In October, however, those countries, which include
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan
will take part.

"KONI did not impose any special targets on whether we should
gain a higher ranking this time around," he said.

"It is more important to get more medals," he added.

Suweno also said that this is why KONI, faced with serious
financial constraints after the closure of the national SDSB
lottery, must be more selective in choosing which events to
participate in.

The executive, however, did not explain why KONI funds are
being used on three non-Olympic events, including wushu, soft
tennis and sepak takraw.

Analysts have expressed grave doubts about Indonesia's chances
in gaining any medals in those three events. (hdj)