Local judokas aim to learn from world championship

Local judokas aim to learn from world championship

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best judokas, Kresna Bayu and
Aprilia Marzuki, expect to learn a lot at the World Judo
Championships in Warsaw, Poland, on March 14 and March 15.

"I want to learn the European style because I have studied
Asian style. It's been my dream to practice in Europe," said
Bayu, who won two golds at the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai,
Thailand.

"European judokas dominate the world now. You could see this
at the Olympics," said Aprilia, who also won two golds at the SEA
Games.

Bayu won the 86kg class and free class at the last SEA Games
and Aprilia grabbed the 66kg class and free class golds.

Coach Jumantoro said the Indonesian Judo Association would
only send Bayu and Aprilia to the world championships because
they were the best of its 43 athletes training for the SEA Games.

"Neither of them have adequate sparring partners here so they
need more international practice, especially in Europe," he said.

"It doesn't mean we are ignoring the other athletes. We hope
they can share their overseas experiences with teammates here,"
he said.

Jumantoro expected Bayu and Aprilia to use the championships
as a warmup for the SEA Games here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.

Bayu said, "We have not set any targets but we must remember
that European judokas are now the best."

Bayu and Aprilia said they expected to repeat their victories
at the next Games. But said they would be wary of Thailand, the
Philippines and Myanmar.

Boat race

Thirty male and 24 female paddlers left the country yesterday
for Melbourne, Australia, to compete in traditional (dragon) boat
championships on March 15 and March 16.

Coach Keppy said it was the second time the national team,
which is training for the SEA Games, had entered the
championships.

Indonesia won the men's traditional boat championships in
Sydney in 1994.

"We hope we can be successful again this week," Keppy said.

The national team will compete in the 20s men's event and 20s
mixed event.

Keppy said his team did not have any equipment or injury
problems.

"They are ready for the championships because it's a warmup
for the World Championships in Hong Kong in June and for the SEA
Games team final selection in July," he said.

The Indonesian Rowing Association will pick 25 men and 25
women for the national squad.

At the last Games, Indonesian rowers made a clean sweep by
bringing home seven golds. They expect another clean sweep this
year, aiming to win all eight gold medals on offer. (yan)