Local athletes to compete in Taiwan and Vietnam

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association will send 10 athletes to the Chinese Taipei Open and four athletes to the Ho Chi Minh Open next week as preparation for the 19th Southeast Asian Games here in October.

The Athletics training director, Tigor M. Tanjung, told the National Sports Council chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, yesterday that the tryouts are to evaluate the centralized training program and to assess other countries' strengths.

Supriati Sutono (women's 5000 and 10,000 meters), N. Rabaiya (women's 100 meters), Rumini (heptathlon), Agus Reza Irawan (long jump and tipple jump), Ismael Sroyer (men's discuss), Yousan Lekahena (long jump and tipple jump), Freddy Mahuse (javelin), M. Rusli (110 meters hurdles) and Nunung Jayadi (pole vault) will compete at the Taipei Open from June 14 to June 15.

Judith Soselisa (tipple jump), Ester Sumah (women's 800 meters), Sih Ernawati (women's 100 meters) and M. Asyik (110 meters hurdles) will compete at the Ho Chi Minh Open from June 24 to June 25.

"So far, the athletes have increased their personal bests. During training, five national records have been set in walking, pole vault and discuss," Tigor said.

Indonesia hopes to win 10 of the 44 track and field gold medals on offer.

"We'll maintain our favorite events, which we won at the last Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand," he said.

Indonesia won seven golds, eight silvers and 10 bronzes at the last biennial event while Thailand took 21 golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes.

Head coach Pieter Ferdinand Noya said athletes needed to compete at both championships because they need at least 10 competitions in three months to reach their peak.

Sepaktakraw

The Indonesian Sepaktakraw Association also reported to Wismoyo yesterday.

The association said it would send its 12 men and four women to the King's Cup championships in Nakonsawan, Thailand.

Sepaktakraw training director Subroto said Indonesia would compete in the men's regu (three players) and men's team (three regu or nine players) and the women's regu events at the championship.

The championships are from June 24 to June 27 and will feature 17 nations.

Before leaving for Thailand, the national squad will compete in the Sentosa International Takraw Beach Tournament in Singapore from June 14 to June 16.

After the championships, the 16 athletes plus 13 more from Jakarta will meet in Bangkok for 12-day stint.

Subroto said the stint in Thailand was because the Thailand had the best players in Asia and many domestic tournaments.

Wismoyo seemed upset with the association's decision to train in Thailand.

"We are trying as hard as we can to prevent Thailand from winning so many medals like it did two years ago. If we practice there, they can see our strengths and weaknesses," he said.

"I want the association to reconsider its decision. Maybe we can have a stint in Malaysia instead," he said. (yan)