PASI eying six golds in 20th SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) is eying a target for six golds in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei in August.

PASI technical committee deputy Pieter Noya said the country held good chances of winning six golds in the biennial event, two less than its tally at the 1997 Games here.

"We lost our chance to win golds in the men's and women's marathons because host country Brunei has decided not to feature the event," he said on Wednesday during a visit by National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar.

Pieter identified Irine Truitje Joseph as the best candidate to win the gold in the women's 100 meters and 200 meters. He also believed women's long-distance runner, Supriati Sutono, was a top candidate. Supriati won gold in the 5,000 meters at the Asian Games last year and finished with three golds and a SEA Games record when the event was held here two years ago.

PASI is still mulling its selections.

Pieter said: "The decision will be taken after athletes compete in the Singapore and Malaysia Open tournaments. In the Malaysia Open in Kelantan from July 16 to July 18, hopefully we can see the real strength from Malaysian and Thai athletes."

Pieter said Irine's strongest rival, Shanti Govindasamy of Malaysia, missed the Taipei Open in late May in which Irine took the gold. Govindasamy is the defending champion in both the 100 meters and 200 meters.

"Hopefully, Shanti also will compete in Kelantan. Her last personal best is 24.17 seconds while Irine's is 23.92."

Pieter said Supriati, who is training at the Pengalengan tea plantation, will likely compete in the 1500 meters, 5000 meters and 10,000 meters in the Games.

Wismoyo urged athletes to show that Indonesians could also perform their best in another country, and not just before a home crowd.

Indonesia won eight golds, eight silvers and 13 bronzes in track at the 1997 SEA Games. Malaysia swept 16 golds, seven silvers and five bronzes, followed by Thailand with 15 golds, 19 silvers and seven bronzes.

PASI also will stage a national championships from July 1 to July 3 as a qualification event for the Games.

KONI's training director, Imron ZS, said KONI was trying to buy a new US$2,000 fiber pole for men's pole vaulter Nunung Jayadi. Nunung is considered a gold medalist candidate after improving his record from 4.95 meters to 5.00 meters in the Taipei Open.

Nunung expressed hope that KONI would immediately purchase the pole, saying he would need four months to adjust to the new equipment.

"We still keep some poles here but we can't use them because they lost their flexibility. The pole strength is in accordance with our body weight. With the new pole, which has a length of 4.60m, I can jump up to 5.20m to 5.25m."

Nunung said he was confident of jumping higher. His closest rival is Edward Lasquete of the Philippines, who won the 1997 SEA Games gold after jumping 4.80 meters. Nunung blamed his below-par jump of 4.60 meters on his old pole. (ivy/yan)