Persani, provinces jointly finance SEAG overseas stint

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Gymnastics Association (Persani) and provincial administrations are jointly financing potential gymnasts for overseas stints in Europe to prepare for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

"Yulianti from Lampung will leave on Monday for her two-month training in Moscow. She will likely stay there until August if we have enough money," Persani secretary general Sri Hastuti Merdiko told reporters on Thursday.

"Persani is cooperating with the chapter in Lampung, Yulianti's place of origin, and the administration has agreed to cover her expenses during her stint."

Meanwhile, Oh Ze Ching of South Sumatra is scheduled to leave for Bulgaria as soon as the paperwork is finished.

"Persani is still working on the administration process with the South Sumatra chapter and its administration. Ze Ching will stay for two months with a possibility of an extension until August," Hastuti said.

"We also urge other administrations to follow Lampung and South Sumatra in sending their SEA Games gymnasts overseas."

Hastuti said the reason for sending gymnasts abroad was because within Asia there was insufficient competition.

"There will be the Universiade in Beijing in August but it's too risky to send our gymnasts there, bearing in mind the tight schedule with the Games.

"That's why we sending our gymnasts to Europe to enable them to compete in local circuits."

Persani is aiming to grab five of the 20 golds at stake at the Games. The organizers canceled the group rhythmic event due to a lack of participants.

Hastuti said the expense would vary based on the country but she gave a rough estimate of US$2,000 per month per athlete.

Yulianti and Ze Ching, who specialize in the rhythmic event will compete using balls, clubs, hoops, and ropes in the SEA Games but will not use ribbon as it is not featured.

"I hope to have a better achievement than the 1997 Games in Jakarta where I grabbed a gold for the team event and a silver in the all-round event," Yulianti said.

Ze Ching also said she aimed to maintain her form when grabbing the team event's gold with Yulianti.

Coach Rinawati said the gymnasts would improve their technique and skill to anticipate the implementation of the new scoring system during their stay abroad.

"They'll have to try adapting to the new system which requires the gymnasts to perform their routines perfectly, or points are not awarded.

"The new system has made it much more difficult". (nvn)