Oka Sulaksana expected to snatch Olympics medal
Oka Sulaksana expected to snatch Olympics medal
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Yachting Association (Porlasi) is
setting a medal-winning target for the country's best windsurfer,
Oka Sulaksana, at the Sydney Olympics next year.
Porlasi deputy chief of athlete development affairs Raymond
Kotambunan said he believed Oka's ample experience gave him a
realistic chance of taking a medal.
"He is far improved now and more mature. His victory at the
Asian Games has given him a formidable boost to his morale to
shine at the Olympics," Raymond said on Friday.
Oka grabbed an Asian Games gold medal in his favorite IMCO
heavy division last December to become Indonesia's first Asiad
winner in the sport.
The Balinese finished 13th in his Olympic debut in Atlanta,
Georgia, three years ago.
Oka is gearing up for the Asia-Pacific zone qualifying
tournament for the World Championships in Guam next month.
Victory would earn the 27-year-old athlete a ticket to the
Olympics.
Raymond said Oka would have other chances to travel to Sydney
even if he failed in Guam.
"As long as he manages to complete all races in Australia-
Oceania and European zones, he will qualify for the Olympics."
Only 40 athletes will qualify for the Olympics. The eligible
windsurfers will come from the World Championships in New
Caledonia in November, the Pre-Olympics in Sydney in February
2000, plus winners of the Asia Pacific, Australia Oceania, North
America, South America and Europe zones. The international
windsurfing body will give five wild cards, including one for the
host country.
Oka will again train under Chris Lawrence, an Australian coach
who successfully guided him to win his first Asiad gold. Junior
surfers Fadli Faisal and Ray Gunadi will join the training stint
in Bali.
Both Fadli and Ray are expected to qualify for the World
Championships, according to Raymond.
Raymond said Lawrence would accompany the trio of windsurfers
during trips to Europe from May to July and Australia from
October to January 2000.
"Although Oka is technically good, he still needs assistance
from his coach who will motivate him and arrange tactics and
strategy for him." (yan)