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.