Marksmen off to Ecuador for world championships
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The national practical shooting team has a dual purpose in participating in the upcoming World Shoot XIV championships in Ecuador.
The 11 marksmen want to do well in the competition, but they are also aiming for Indonesia to win the right to host the 2008 championship.
"We are not preoccupying ourselves with a target. We cannot challenge the world's shooting strongholds yet. We are simply taking part, keen to see if some of our shooters can turn in a surprise performance," International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) regional director Bambang Trihatmodjo told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
National shooters will compete in the open and standard divisions at the Aug. 22-Aug. 26 event in Guayaquil; other events in competition are production, revolver and modified divisions.
The IPSC of Indonesia will also push its bid to host the 2008 championships during the concurrent general assembly.
"I heard the Czech Republic is the only other IPSC region wanting to bid. But I'm sure that if the decision goes to a vote we can take it," said Bambang, putting the country's chances of success at 90 percent.
"We already have experience in organizing an international with the recent AustralAsia championship in Bali. Participants praised the event."
A four-level international event, the AustralAsia in December was a level below the world championships. World champion Eric Grauffel of France triumphed in the open division in Bali event while national top shooter Roy Haryanto finished in the top 10.
Bambang said hosting the event, which was last held in Asia in Cebu, the Philippines, in 1999, would help the country's image abroad.
"With more than 1,000 participants, the championship will once again be good promotion for Bali and Indonesia."
Roy, who finished 19th in the world championship in South Africa in 2002, will again be the country's best hope in Ecuador, along with Zainal Arief and Paul Banuara.
"We hope one of them will be able to challenge the world's top shooters," said Bambang, who is also part of the team.
Although looking forward to the challenge of international competition, Paul said he wished he had more practice for the championships.
"If it is about coming up against international shooters in a world-level event, the preparation still falls short of the supposedly ideal load. We are not simply athletes. We have to divide our time between business and practicing," said Paul, an architect by profession.
His Ecuadorian trip will be his third appearance in a world championships, and he is relishing the chance to take on Asia's best.
"Hopefully, I can overcome Asian rivals," he said. -------------------------------------------- Indonesian shooting team: Bambang Trihatmodjo, Jay Reyes, Hendra Jaya, Pandji Adhikumoro, Joseph Leonardi, Semuil Susilo, Paul Banuara, Sinyo Haryanto, Roy Haryanto, Richard Hendarmo, Zainal Arief, Fabian Surya Putra (team manager)