Parents skeptical about U.S. excursion

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While 12 local swimmers prepare for a one-year training course in the United States later this month, one parent was skeptical that it would improve her daughter's ability.

Nanik J. Soewadji said the planned trip by her daughter, 20- year-old Nancy Suryaatmaja, reminded her of last season's crumbling expectation.

After a six-month training program in Australia, Nancy went to the 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games with gold medal hopes, but she finished a disappointing third for the bronze.

"I am a bit worried as I have not yet been informed about what club my daughter will join," she said.

"I just don't want the bad result after the 2003 training camp in Australia to occur again as my daughter will go to the U.S. at the expense of the people's money."

Indonesian swimmers have been lagging in competition against regional rivals with only one gold medal brought home from the 2003 SEA Games in the swimming competition that traditionally provided the bulk of medals.

The dispatch of swimmers to the U.S. is part of the Indonesian Swimming Association's (PRSI) bid to revive its SEA Games success ahead going into the 2005 edition in the Philippines.

Besides Nancy, the other swimmers include Andy Wibowo, 24, Donny B. Utomo, 25, Herry Yudhianto, 21, M. Akbar Nasution, 21, Bobby Bangkit Guntoro, 17, from the men's team, and Yuliana Malindha, 16, Magdalena Sutanto, 17, Sherly Yunita, 14, Felicia Tjandra, 12, Ira Kurniawan and Lina Cahya Utami from the women's team.

Nanik said she would have preferred her daughter to train in China as she did in preparation for the 2004 National Games (PON), where she won two gold medals.

Meanwhile, Antono Tjandra, father of the youngest swimmer and breaststroke specialist Felicia, said he doubted whether the U.S. outing would translate into medals at the next SEA games.

"For 2005, she'd probably be very happy with a chance of winning a bronze, but I am optimistic she will do much better in 2007," he said.

The 2007 SEA Games will be hosted by Thailand.