More judo events likely next year
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)