Men's tae kwon doins win LG Cup title

JAKARTA (JP): Men from the national tae kwon do squad won the first LG Cup National Tae kwon do Championships at the Senayan Indoor Stadium on Monday, but women from the national team failed.

Andri Halim of West Java claimed the champion title in the men's heavyweight division after beating former national athlete Amril Yusam of Lampung.

Andri, who has competed for the national team since 1991, said he only prepared one week ahead of the championships.

"I actually didn't want to compete in the championships, but Mr. Oh Il-nam (national team coach from South Korea) forced me to compete as I am still the best in the division," said the 1995 and 1997 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist and 1999 Games silver medalist.

Andri said the failure to produce any new athletes was due to a lack of attention on the part of the National Sports Council (KONI) and the government toward athletes, not only in tae kwon do but in also other sports.

"An athlete only receives a monthly allowance of Rp 375,000 (US$52) while in the Philippines, a SEA Games gold medalist can earn US$3,000. If I can't practice frequently, I can't earn a lot of money. I'd prefer to work as an insurance employee like I do right now," he said.

In the men's welterweight division, Bayu Firmansyah of West Java, also a member of the 1999 SEA Games team, grabbed the gold medal after beating Denny Okamto of Jakarta.

Unfortunately, Yoga Pradana of Central Java, also a member of the SEA Games team, failed to win the gold in the featherweight division after he bowed out to West Java's Pino Indra Perdana.

In the men's flyweight class, Syafrizal Tanjung of Jakarta won the gold medal after eliminating Suwiryadi of West Java.

Shanti Agustina of West Java, who also competed in the 1999 SEA Games, was surprisingly upset by Ratna Marleni of Lampung in the women's heavyweight division.

In the women's finweight class, SEA Games team member Ade Novriza of East Kalimantan unexpectedly lost to Andriani Tri Asmara of West Java in the semifinals.

Andriani was still to face another SEA Games team member Marce Lattusalo, who usually competes in the flyweight class, late Monday.

The Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI) will admit 114 athletes from the championships to qualify for the 15th National Games in Surabaya next year. (yan)