Perpani and KONI to disregard archer Rina's suspension

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani) central board and the National Sports Council (KONI) will disregard the association's East Java chapter decision to ban archer Rina Dewi Puspitasari from national and international events for two years due to her refusal to compete at the National Games (PON) early this month.

Perpani chairman Subowo told a press conference on Tuesday that the suspension was not in line with the association rules and would damage Rina's future as an archer.

"The suspension was ridiculous and not useful at all. It would not only damage Rina's career as an archer but it would make Indonesia suffer as well because Rina is one of Indonesia's valuable asset in sports," Subowo said.

The 18-year-old Rina is currently one of the best archers in the country. She won a gold medal in the 22nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi and grabbed two golds in the Asian Grand Prix archery competition in Singapore last year. She competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens but exited in the first round after losing to U.S. archer Jennifer Nichols.

At PON, Rina refused to represent East Java in the national round, arguing that she had never practiced shooting in that particular event before and did not have the necessary equipment for the competition. Instead, she only took part in the FITA (International Archery Federation) round.

Due to her decision, she was suspended for "committing indisciplinary actions starting from Sept. 21".

"When Rina refused to join the national round, I talked to her and she said that she made a mistake in refusing to compete because she took part in PON as a part of the East Java contingent. Therefore, she had to do what she had been told to do," Subowo said.

He added that he had also talked to East Java Governor Imam Utomo as the province's chef-de-mission about Rina and both agreed that she would get a mild suspension as she had admitted her mistakes.

However, Subowo was shocked when he found out that the East Java chapter banned Rina from competing in any international and national events.

"Besides, the East Java chapter does not have the authority to decide whether Rina can or cannot take part in international events. Only Perpani's central board can do that," he said.

"Currently, Rina is in Surabaya, trying to appeal the decision but so far none of the East Java chapter officials, including the Governor, would meet her," Subowo added.

KONI's secretary-general Djohar Arifin said that the council had not received any letter from the East Java chapter regarding Rina's suspension.

"As long as we haven't received the letter, we assume that Rina was never suspended," he said.