PASI seeks versatile athletic recruits

PASI seeks versatile athletic recruits

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Athletics Association (PASI) is looking to step
up its talent search by holding an unprecedented 60- to 80-meter
sprint meet for students.

PASI secretary-general Tigor Tanjung said the race, which aims
to scour the country for 10 promising male and female athletes in
each of its 32 provinces, would take place immediately in several
major cities.

"The scouts are looking for young talents with exceptionally
athletic physiques," Tigor said on Wednesday on the sidelines of
announcing the new 2004-2008 organizational board here.

The track meet was initially broached last month by PASI
chairman Mohammad "Bob" Hasan following his reelection for the
association's top post for a seventh consecutive term.

Tigor reiterated the importance of sprinting skills in the
development of all track and field athletes, saying that a good
sprinter would make an excellent athlete in any event.

Hasan had argued earlier that world champions in the men's
pole vault and long jump had a sprinting record of 10.1 seconds
for the 100-meter dash.

To provide young athletes with a testing field, PASI will hold
two national championships: one in September for under-17s and
another in November for athletes between 17 and 20 years of age.

Four national Grand Prix series are also scheduled for 2004.

PASI plans to send athletes to overseas tournaments: the
Thailand Athletics Open in April in Bangkok; the Hanoi
International Athletics Championships in May; the Philippines
Open in June in Manila; the Asian Grand Prix from June 23 to July
1 in Songhkla, Colombo, and Manila; the Asian Junior
Championships in June in Ipoh, Malaysia; the 10th World Junior
Athletic Championships in Gorsetto, Italy, and the Sapporo
International Half Marathon, both in July.