Pelti confident of romping home with five tennis golds

By Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) is optimistic about its chances to bag five golds at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.

Two years ago, the underdog Indonesian women's squad, without former top player Yayuk Basuki, managed to upset the hot favorite Thailand with its star player Tamarine Tanasugarn on the Senayan clay courts. Top Indonesian men's doubles Sulistyo Wibowo and Bonit Wiryawan also managed to claim the title of best duo in the region. The men's team unexpectedly earned the gold after a 10- year wait.

This year, the women's team will attempt to earn three golds in the singles, doubles and team event, while the men's team will defend its gold in the team event and the doubles.

With Romana Tedjakusuma in the lineup, Wynne Prakusya, Liza Andriyani and Wukirasih Sawondari are confident about meeting Thailand, especially as Tanasugarn, who is working on her world ranking, will miss the Games.

Executive training director Martina Wijaya said she was heartened by Thailand's announcement not to field its best players.

"It means our chances are getting better for winning three golds. I'm not surprised that Tamarine will miss the Games. I heard the news from the Thailand Tennis Federation chairman some time ago," she said.

Two years ago, Liza Andriyani beat Tanasugarn in the team event, while Wukirasih defeated her in the individual event.

Women's team coach Suharyadi was also optimistic for her players.

"Without Tamarine, I think we can take all three golds in the women's sector," he said.

Suharyadi plans to field Wynne and Romana as the singles in the biennial event to be held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

"They are both highly motivated, especially Romana, who has maintained her condition during her studies in the United States because she keeps competing in the NCAA," said Suharyadi, husband of Yayuk.

The men's squad, however, lacks their team members' experience. Only Suwandi has attended a SEA Games. He won the 1993 Games gold at the age of 14. The other three members of the team -- Febi Widhiyanto, Hendri Susilo Pramono and Yusmawan Fahmi -- are newcomers to the event.

Without defending champions Bonit and Sulistyo, it will be hard for the second best duo of Febi and Hendri to regain the gold.

"It will be difficult for them both to defeat brothers Paradorn and Narathorn Srichaphan of Thailand as they are the 1998 Asian Games doubles champions. But we must not forget that Paradorn crashed in the first round of the future tournament here early this month," said men's coach Tintus Arianto Wibowo.

Paradorn, who reached the second round of Wimbledon before bowing out to Yevgeny Kavelnikof, lost to little-known qualifier Rik dde Voest of South Africa in the future tournament.

Tintus will most likely field Suwandi and Febi in the singles. It could be very risky to field high-tempered Yusmawan in a team event.

The Filipino team of Joseph Lizardo and Bryan Juinio will also pose a threat as they beat the Indonesia Davis Cup team here on the rebound ace court in April.

Despite the strength of the opposition, Hendri was optimistic about his Games' prospects.

"Although the Indonesian Tennis Association doesn't set us any targets, we must work hard to win the gold," he said.

Player preparation, however, has not been as solid as was the case two years ago; the players only had two future tournaments here. In a final training session to boost their competitive spirit, team members are competing in the Governor Cup in Bandung.

Tennis team members

Men's: Suwandi, Yusmawan Fahmi, Febi Widhiyanto, Hendri Susilo Pramono

Women's: Romana Tedjakusuma, Wynne Prakusya, Wukirasih Sawondari, Liza Andriyani