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)