More swimmers eye Olympics

More swimmers eye Olympics

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia hopes to qualify more swimmers for the
2000 Olympic Games in Sydney apart from nine swimmers currently
attending a training program.

Secretary-general of the National Swimming Federation of
Indonesia (PRSI) Abdurrahim said the swimmers could test their
skills in the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya in June,
which has been acknowledged by the international swimming
federation (FINA) as one of the qualifying rounds for the
quadrennial event.

"Senior swimmers like Catherine Surya, Rita Mariani and Meitri
Pangestika still have a chance to qualify through competing in
PON. But we will consider the best swimmers to represent
Indonesia in the Olympics. A chance to perform in the Games will
boost their confidence, although we have not named any swimmers
to be sent to Sydney," he said on Wednesday.

PRSI and the National Sports Council (KONI) are grooming men's
swimmers Richard Sam Bera, Wisnu Wardhana, M. Akbar Nasution,
twin brothers Albert and Felix Christiadi Sutanto M. Akbar
Nasution, Steven Chandra and women's swimmers Elsa Manora
Nasution and Siripiya Sutanto. Among these swimmers, only
Siripiya has not yet qualified.(ivy)