Pakistani to be hired for squash sparring partner

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Squash Association (PSI) is hiring Pakistani Asaz Azmat as a sparring partner for its men's team in preparation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.

Coach Bambang Gatot Subroto said on Monday Asaz would soon arrive in the country.

"The organization is handling his transportation and accommodation. Asaz is world ranked in the 30s and he will receive a US$1,000 fee to be our sparring partner for about two weeks," he said, adding that top PSI officials had approved the appointment.

Indonesia is preparing Johnny Supardi, Nuryanto, Donny Manik and Abdul Manaf for the Aug. 7 to Aug. 15. biennial event.

PSI had planned to send the four athletes for an overseas training session in Hong Kong, but canceled the move to engage the services of a world-class player.

"We also did the same thing two years ago when we prepared for the Games here. We won three bronzes, thanks to Raees Khan of Pakistan. Raees has been sparring with the Filipinos for seven months," Bambang said.

He said the team would again aim to collect three bronzes.

"We will face a tough challenge from Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia will field defending champion Kenneth Low and second best Ong Bing Hee, while Singapore is likely to field Peter Hill. But I heard the country's association is having problems, because Hill asks for HK$250 per hour if Singapore wants him to defend his own country.

"If Singapore doesn't include Hill in the team, I hope we can steal a silver," he said.

In 1997, Malaysia made a clean sweep of the medals, with four golds and two silvers in both men's and women's individual and team events. Singapore trailed in second place by bagging two silvers and three bronzes, while Indonesia grabbed three bronzes.

Indonesia will not field it's women's team this year due to the women's lack of fitness.(yan)