More Indonesian athletes arrive for SEAG
KUALA LUMPUR (JP): The second batch of Indonesian athletes arrived here on Thursday for the 21st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which open on Saturday.
The athletes of several sports, including badminton, tennis, basketball, volleyball, tae kwon do, squash and judo were greeted by school students clad in Malaysian traditional attire at the Sultan Abdul Aziz airport.
Missing in the group were badminton men's doubles player Candra Wijaya and tennis women's singles player Angelique Wijaya.
"I don't know where Candra is, but he has told me that he would catch the second batch or fly with the third batch on Friday," teammate Tony Gunawan said.
Tony speculated that family commitments were the reason for the late arrival of Candra, his partner in winning the Olympic gold medal.
"I guess he is reluctant to leave his wife alone after several outings. He's slated to take part in a super grand prix series in China right after the SEA Games," Tony added.
Wimbledon junior champion Angelique is still playing at the US Open, where she reached the third round.
Her coach Tintus A. Wibowo was cautious of whether Angelique could reach her top form after a whirlwind trip to New York.
"It remains unknown whether Angie is mentally ready or not. There is some 12-hour time difference between New York and Kuala Lumpur so she will need to adapt herself first," Tintus, a SEA Games past winner, said.
Tennis competition begins on Sunday.
Back in Jakarta, the Indonesian Tae Kwon Do Association (TI) expressed disappointment that the National Sports Council (KONI) had backed away from its promise to provide equipment for TI athletes competing in to Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asia (SEA) Games.
"I'm disappointed with KONI. It promised that the athletes' equipment would be provided for the third stage of training," TI secretary-general Adrian Lumowa said in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.
The tae kwon do team, comprising 15 athletes and six coaches, was scheduled to leave for Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, with Andrian complaining that half the members had not been supplied with tournament equipment.
He said that, while still not having provided head covers and shirts for the tae kwon do team, KONI had already equipped other teams. He said KONI had displayed preferential treatment in the lead-up to the games.
"I'm afraid that this could adversely the athletes' frame of mind. With the promise unfulfilled, I warn against disappointment if the athletes finish short of the target," he said.
The team, which has targeted to win four gold medals, could have sent 16 athletes for the medal quest, however, Karuna Murdaya was forced to withdraw at the last minute due to injuries. (01/nvn)