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.