National swimmers fail to meet required times

National swimmers fail to meet required times

JAKARTA (JP): National swimmers being groomed for the 13th
Asian Games in December lived up to their status as the
continent's decided outsiders when they fell short of qualifying
times at the 20th National Interclub Championships on Monday.

A sluggish Felix C. Sutanto exceeded the one minute mark in
the men's 100-meter freestyle. The Southeast Asian Games
champion's slowest-ever competition time of 1:00.31 was still the
fastest among the eight swimmers in Monday's final.

The National Sports Council set 56.60 seconds or better as the
qualifying time for the Asiad.

Asked about his prospects at the Games, Felix, who holds the
national record of 55.7 seconds set at the California State
Championships in May, replied: "Let's wait and see."

The Games will take place in Bangkok from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.
The sports council has reserved eight places for the swimmers in
the national team for the continent's major sports event.

Indonesia did not take part in the 1994 Asiad swimming
competition.

Elsa Manora Nasution and Silvy Triana fared even worse, losing
to unfavored Lisa Wiryasaputra in the women's 100m backstroke.

Lisa swam 1:01.42, while Elsa and Silvy trailed in 1:08.11 and
1:09.73 respectively.

The Asian Games qualifying time in the event was set at
1:02.70.

Chairman of the Indonesian Swimming Association Rahardi
Ramelan said earlier in the day he would not insist that the
council send the swimmers if they missed the qualifying times.

"If they perform poorly at this tournament, why should we
insist on sending them to the Asiad? We have to realize that we
are taking on Asia's world-class swimmers," Rahardi said after
declaring the tournament open at the Senayan swimming pool.

Last week, Silvy and coach Gerald P. Item said they were
pessimistic the swimmers would reach the council's standard time
after making early exits from their respective overseas training
sessions.

Head coach Lukman Niode refused to use the abbreviated
overseas stint as an excuse for the swimmers to perform below
par.

"We still have a chance to shine at the Asiad although we no
longer can train abroad. The likes of Catherine Surya and Rita
Mariani, particularly, are the swimmers to watch," said Lukman, a
former top national swimmer.

Rita and Catherine are missing from the three-day tournament.

More than 450 swimmers from 68 clubs in 17 provinces are
taking part in the annual event. (yan)