More judo events likely next year

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Judo Association (PJSI) plans to stage more competitions to scout new talent starting next year.

Arie J. Kumaat, chairman of PJSI's supervisory board, told a news conference yesterday that the judo body will no longer select athletes for centralized training through the annual national championships.

"Our performance at international levels remains below our expectations. We are considering holding more tournaments to meet our need for better achievement," Arie added.

The Association is scheduled to conclude its program this year with a national championships here next week. Some 370 male and female judokas from throughout the country are expected to take part.

They are vying for 16 places at the centralized training camp for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games next year. Arie, who is also the Bukit Barisan Military Commander, chairs the organizing committee for the Dec. 16- Dec. 18 event.

A day after the national championships, top officials of PJSI and its provincial branches will gather to elect a new leadership board for the next four-year term. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar has been at the association's helm for the last three terms.

Arie failed to go into details on the format of the tournaments PJSI plans to establish, but said that there will be at least one national-level event every three or four months.

He also refused to comment on whether foreign judokas will be allowed to join the tournaments.

"We'll think about it," he said.

SEA Games champions Krishna Bayu, Henky Phie and Ni Made Suyudani are expected to enter the upcoming national championships. The year-end meet will contest eight classes in both the men's and women's divisions.

All entrants booked their places to the nation's most prestigious judo event during qualifying matches held simultaneously in five cities on Nov. 27.

"We treat top national judokas and their provincial counterparts equally. All have the same chance to win spots in the national team for the SEA Games," Arie said.

PJSI's one-day national congress at the Century Park Hotel will likely give Wismoyo another four-year term.

"He is a caring patron," Arie said of Wismoyo. PJSI does not limit a chairman's incumbency. (amd)