PBI waits for funds from KONI

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Bowling Association (PBI) had not received financial support from National Sports Council (KONI) to fund its athletes' tryout abroad in preparation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August, PBI's deputy chairman Aswin Limansantoso said on Monday.

Aswin said that PBI's officials did not know how to propose for the money.

"We don't know the procedure and we only wait for KONI to disburse the money," Aswin was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said that the money would be used to finance his athletes to take part in several tournament in Singapore or Malaysia in July. He said that currently 22 athletes, comprising 11 women and men each, had joined PBI's training program.

Aswin expressed optimism that the athletes could get at least two bronze, which was similar to the national athletes' achievement in the 1997 Games here.

He said however that the Indonesian women athletes would face strong rivals from Malaysia, Philipina and Singapore, while the men athletes had similar capability on the average. (ivy)