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)