Percasi eyes 3 golds in Manila

Percasi eyes 3 golds in Manila

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The new executive board of the Chess Association of Indonesia
(Percasi) on Tuesday expressed optimism about its chase for three
gold medals at the next Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

"I am optimistic that we can bring home three golds from the
SEA Games," Percasi chairman Eddie Widiono told a press
conference during the announcement of the new executive board of
Percasi at the Sahid Jaya Hotel in Central Jakarta.

The 2005 SEA Games, the regions's biennial multi-event
sporting showcase, will be hosted by Manila in December.

Indonesia's chess bets will lie on Grand Master (GM) Utut
Adianto and GM Susanto Megaranto, the gold and silver medalist
two years ago in Vietnam.

"We expect Utut to repeat the feat in Manila and at the 2006
Asian Games (in Doha)," Eddie, who is also the president director
of the State Electricity Company (PLN), said.

Utut, who had acted in a caretaker capacity until Eddie's
appointment, and 17-year-old Susanto are part of the nine-strong
team in the men's division preparing for their Manila campaign.
Other team members are Edhi Handoko, Danny Juswanto, Ivan Situru,
Salor Sitanggang, Tirto, Taufik Halay and Tirta Chandra.

Susanto, Taufik and Tirta are currently undergoing European
tryouts in which they are scheduled to compete in five
tournaments.

Indonesia's contenders in the women's competition are Lisa
Lumongdong, Ai Zakiah, Evie Lindiawati, Norasa Verdiana, Stefani
Dian Cheri, Tri Handayani and Irene Kharisma.

The Indonesian chess team collected one gold and four silver
medals during the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam.

Discussing the development program, Eddie said the association
would be pushing for chess to be taught in schools across the
country in a bid to find new talent.

Eddie, who was unanimously elected Percasi chairman last month
after the resignation of Jeffrey Geovanie in November, also
promised to lean more on the junior team as possible flag bearers
in the future.

"Percasi will also hold a national chess circuit and women's
international championship as part of efforts to popularize
chess," he said.

The new executive board of Percasi is made up of bureaucrats,
businessmen and chess players.

Eddie is assisted by four deputies: Eka Putra Wirya, Rusdi
Taher Harbiansyah Hanafiah and Utut. Soap opera actress Olga
Lydia keeps her post as media and promotion officer.