Lifters to start training for Asiad next month

Lifters to start training for Asiad next month

JAKARTA (JP): The 19th SEA Games ended just six days ago but
the Indonesian Weight lifting, Power lifting and Bodybuilding
Association is to start its national training center for the 13th
Asian Games on Nov. 1.

The association's secretary-general, Djoko Pramono, said
yesterday that the association would include 12 weight lifters in
the long-term training scheme.

"We can't wait until the National Sports Council orders us to
start training. The association will finance the training because
we are aiming to win golds in the Asian Games in Bangkok next
December," said Djoko, who was Indonesia's SEA Games training
director.

Sri Indriyani, Winarni, Sriyani, Supeni and Fatmawati will
lead the women's team while Hari Setiawan, Taufik, Misdan,
Zulkarnaen, Sutrisno, Erwin Abdullah and Joko Hanggono will be in
the men's squad.

Sri, Winarni, Sriyani, Hari, Taufik and Erwin each won one
gold medal in the SEA Games. Two other golds were won by Sunaryo
and I Nyoman Sudarma, who have been excluded from the training
program due to their ages.

"We have sent letters to the athletes and expect them to
arrive on Nov. 1. If they don't show up, we may replace them with
other lifters," Djoko, a Marine major general, said.

The organization will send Sri Indriyani, Winarni, Sriyani and
Hari Setiawan to the World Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand,
in December.

"We hope one of them will win one medal, or at least finish
fifth. The results will be an evaluation to prepare our athletes
better for the Asian Games," he said.

Djoko said the association had also evaluated the SEA Games
results, where national lifters won eight golds.

"We didn't fail at all. We reached our target to win eight
golds."

The association will also open another weight lifting training
center in West Java. It already has two centers, in Lampung and
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.

"Our third-string athletes are expected to compete in the 2001
SEA Games," Djoko said.

Djoko said the International Olympic Committee had approved
women's weight lifting to be included in the Olympics but that
there will be some division changes in the men's and women's
divisions.

In the women's events, there will be seven instead of nine
classes; 48kgs, 53kgs, 58kgs, 63kgs, 69kgs, 75kgs and over 75kgs.

In the men's events, there will be eight instead of 10
classes; 56kgs, 62kgs, 69kgs, 77kgs, 85kgs, 95kgs, 105kgs and
over 105kgs.

The new divisions will be introduced in January 1998. (yan)