Meitri prefers Germany to America for training

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)