Pelti told to treat players equality

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman told the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) that it must treat senior and junior players equally when it comes to training programs.

Hayono pointed out the performance gap between Indonesia's number one women's tennis player Yayuk Basuki and Romana Tedjakusuma, her partner in the doubles.

Hayono, who was speaking after opening Pelti's two-day national congress in Sanur, Bali yesterday, asked Pelti not to treat professional and amateur players differently.

Pelti's president, Cosmas Batubara, acknowledged Hayono's criticism and said his organization plans to develop a training program for junior players soon that will eventually enable them to rub shoulders with their seniors.

Pelti's national congress will elect its new leadership board for the next four-year term. Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and businessmen Ponco Sutowo and Probosutedjo are favored to take Pelti's helm. The incumbent Cosmas has hinted that he will not seek re-election.

Ponco Sutowo, who is now Pelti's chairman in charge of development affairs, expressed his readiness to be elected as president of the sports body.

If elected, Ponco said he will continue Pelti's current programs and recruit more professionals for the new board.

Ponco said if somebody else should win, he hoped it would be Sarwono because he is not only an old hand at tennis, but also a well-known government figure.

Sarwono has refused to become Pelti's chief, saying he is so busy he would have no time to manage the sports organization. Pelti's president should have ample time to effectively address its problems and to approach any involved parties, Sarwono added.

The Pelti chapter of East Java has proposed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wismoyo Arismunandar as president of the association. "He meets all the criteria for the post," said Supa'i, secretary of Pelti's East Java chapter. (arf)