Perbakin is likely to withdraw from two events in SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Target Shooting and Hunting Association (Perbakin) may cancel its participation in two events -- the men's air pistol and women's air rifle -- at this year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Perbakin Secretary General Anthony Sunarjo said on Saturday that the decision was made after their shooter's poor performance in the 23rd Anniversary Cup shooting championships here.
"They could not fulfill the minimum score requirement and their results are far below other Southeast Asian shooters' abilities. It's very difficult to expect medals from them, so we will automatically drop out of the event," Anthony told Antara.
Eight shooters who attended the training program for the SEA Games failed to impress their instructors at the Cup.
In the men's air rifle event on Saturday, only one out of four shooters managed to reach the qualifying round with a score above 570, a benchmark for shooters in this event.
Their performances were far below those of other Southeast Asian countries' competitors during the 2000 Southeast Asian Shooting Association (SEASA) championships, where competitors scored a minimum of 573 in reaching the qualifying round.
Mauludi recorded 574 points, while compatriots Sarozawato Zai, Maryono and Sholeh only scored 569, 565 and 563 respectively.
In the women's air rifle, which was staged on the competitions opening day on Thursday, Perbakin participants also failed to reach the benchmark qualifying score of 388.
Dinnie Ary W. scored 382, Suparni and Shilla Prasasti scored 379, while Nunung Kristiana scored 386.
Anthony said that a shooter needed a very technical training method. "This is a measured sport. It's very difficult to make improvements to reach the minimum score in a short period of time," he said.
He admitted that, technically, Indonesian shooters could match their compatriots from Thailand or Vietnam.
"But finally, the mental preparedness and concentration are the main determinants for victory," he explained.
Should Perbakin withdraw its participation in both events, it will only send 10 of the overall 18 shooters being groomed for the Games. They will compete in five events: the women's trap and double trap, men's rapid fire pistol, women's sport rifle prone, women's sport pistol and women's air pistol.
Perbakin will also evaluate the 10 shooters in this year's SEASA championships in Bangkok in early July.
Sarozawato seemed unperturbed by the possibility of Perbakin withdrawing from the events at the SEA Games, which will be held from Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 this year.
"No problem, if Perbakin thinks that we will find difficulties in winning medals in the SEA Games," he said.
He also admitted that Indonesian shooters' technical skills were at the same level of other Southeast Asian shooters, but their hunger for victory was unequal.
"It's difficult to defeat ourselves," he said, adding that the training program should include psychological consultation.
"The training center only focus on technique, while it lacks mental training," he said.
Despite the poor result in the air rifle event, Sarozawato of Kartika Shooting Club won the air pistol final, scoring a total of 662.7 on Saturday. I Ketut Sudiana of POP Bali was second and Mauludi third, both sharing 662.2 points, but Ketut won the "shoot-off" contest to decide the runner-up and third positions.
Ari Setyatmoko of Timur Shooting Club won the men's free rifle prone final with a total score of 681.6, only 1.9 points away from the national record, which he set during the inter-club shooting championships in February.
Gatot PY from Bimantara was second, scoring 677.9, followed by Sudarmin with 672.8.
In the women's sport pistol event, Desak Putu of ESC won with 644.8 points. Nurismelly from ESC was second with 644.5 and Kadarwati third with 634.6 points. (ivy)