Mission impossible for local swimmers at Asiad: Official

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's bid to win at least bronze medals in the pool at the 13th Asian Games is unrealistic, an Indonesian Swimming Association official said on Friday.

"We will take on a mission impossible if we have to carry the burden of finishing among the continent's top three," the association's deputy technical director, Gerald Item, said.

"The monetary crisis has hit our preparations for the games. If the swimmers were practicing in the United States, they could make it," he added.

Indonesia last won a rare bronze through the women's 4X100- meter freestyle relay quartet of Meitry Widya Pangestika, Elfira Rosa Nasution, Yeyen Gunawan and Chia Fek Kim in the 1990 event in Beijing. All have now retired from international competition.

The National Sports Council did not enter a swimming team at the most recent Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Japan four years ago.

This time around the council will allow national swimmers to enter the Asiad in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20 provided they meet the qualifying times for the games in their final trial here next week.

Gerald, himself a former leading swimmer, said he was skeptical that his proteges would qualify due to their training problems.

All but two swimmers sent for overseas trainings last year have returned home and are now practicing at their local clubs. Rita Mariani and her teammate Catherine Surya have continued training in the United States and Australia respectively with their families financial backing.

The association is grooming nine swimmers for the Asiad, five of whom are female.

Gerald, the husband of former swimming queen Elfira, said Indonesia's best, albeit slim change of taking a medal lies in the women's 4X100m freestyle relay.

"The Asian third best mark is 3 minutes 56.50 seconds. If each of our women's quartet clocks 59 seconds, I believe they deserve a podium finish," he said.

However, relay team member Silvy Triana said she was doubtful that she could meet the time limit set by her coach.

"It's impossible for me to meet that. My best time in the 100m freestyle is three and a half seconds off the Asian record of 56.30 and two seconds slower than the Southeast Asian Games mark," she said.

Silvy, who was about to leave for the U.S. when the association asked her teammates to return home, said she has been practicing intensively for three months. (yan)