Meitri prefers Germany to America for training
JAKARTA (JP): Talented swimmer Meitri Widya Pangestika is refusing to go to the United States for a 10-month overseas training stint for personal reasons in addition to wanting to study in her hometown of Purwokerto, Central Java.
Meitri, aged 19, who has been a member of the national squad at four SEA Games, was sent to the United States for several months but said she felt isolated during her stay in California.
The fear of suffering further culture shock is her main reason for refusing to go. The second is that she feels inferior as her times have been decreasing since the last Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 1995.
Djoko Pramono, the Games training program director, said yesterday at the Senayan swimming pool that Meitri had met her former German coach, who offered her the opportunity to train in Germany.
"She suggested she should be sent to Germany since she knew her coach well and felt that Germany fits her more than the United States," Djoko said.
Djoko will meet Indonesian Swimming Association officials today or tomorrow to discuss the matter.
"Meitri still has the spirit to fight for the country. She still wants to train in Germany although she would only receive an allowance of Rp 300,000 (US$125) per month," Djoko said.
All national athletes receive Rp 300,000 per month plus Rp 40,000 per day for their lodging and laundry fees and Rp 70,000 per month for recreational fees.
Another national squad member, Rita Mariani from East Java, has asked the association to give her more time to join the centralized training program because she has to pass her final senior high school examination in Surabaya.
Djoko said that Rita wants to join the squad as soon as she finishes her examinations.
"The association is to send both a weekly and daily program to Iskandar, Rita's coach, so the athlete still can concentrate on her final exams and work out at the same time," he said.
Problem
Ella Haryono from East Java, a national second string swimmer, also wanted to join the training after finishing her junior high school examinations.
"We'll talk to Ella and her mother right away to solve the problem," said Djoko.
Djoko said earlier that the East Java branch had assured him that Ella did not have a chance of winning medals in the biennial event, which takes place here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.
Coach Gerald P. Item said that both Rita and Ella can join the national squad if they perform well enough at the national selection trials in April.
Several athletes from other sports organizations, including the Indonesian Cycling Association, the Indonesian Basketball Association and the Indonesian Weightlifting and Powerlifting Association, have not come to Jakarta to start the training due to study or work commitments.
Djoko blamed private companies and schools for not giving special permits to their employees and students to join the training.
About 80 percent of the country's 1,720-athlete have joined the training program, which began on Nov. 1.
Djoko expects all athletes to equal their personal bests, either from the last SEA Games or the National Games, in April.
If the athletes can't do that, they have to be dropped from the main team.
All athletes will be given a six-day holiday to celebrate Idul Fitri. (yan)