Pride on the line for host Indonesia
Pride on the line for host Indonesia
As part of the our coverage of the SEA Games, The Jakarta
Post is running a profile of each of the 10 participating
countries. The story below is the tenth in the series.
JAKARTA (JP): It is almost a foregone conclusion that
Indonesia will emerge the overall medal champion when the SEA
Games closes next Sunday.
But rewriting the record books is another question.
After suffering a humbling loss to host Thailand in the
overall medal standings in the 1995 Games in Chiang Mai,
Indonesia quickly regrouped and set its sights on victory in this
year's Southeast Asian sports extravaganza.
It remains to be seen whether the year-long rigorous training
regimen, which cost the National Sports Council millions of
dollars, has been sufficient preparation for athletes' to grab
victory and sweep away the agony of Chiang Mai.
Chairman of the council Wismoyo Arismunandar repeatedly told
athletes during their training sessions that they were on a
mission "to restore national pride which was hurt in Chiang Mai".
He added: "You represent a big country. We have to make amends
for our loss."
The Chiang Mai defeat was also a setback for Wismoyo in his
first international outing as head of the council.
The region's longtime sporting powerhouse, Indonesia left
Chiang Mai red-faced with 77 gold medals, 67 silvers and 77
bronzes, a distant second to Thailand's 157 golds, 98 silvers and
98 silvers.
Indonesia had also lost to Thailand in the 1985 Games in
Bangkok.
With its pride on the line, the confident hosts have targeted
150 golds this time out.
President Soeharto tried to defuse the fever-pitch of
competition by stating the focus should be on using the Games as
a stepping stone to achievements in more prestigious
international events.
Soeharto told the Indonesian squad to concentrate on record-
breaking efforts instead of regional supremacy. He said the Games
should be used to foster better ties among participating
countries.
"If the rivalry for the overall champion goes on, I'm afraid
the competition will be reduced to a two-horse race between
Indonesia and Thailand," he said.
Despite the President's directive, Indonesia will make full
use of its home advantage to strive to end atop the medal
standings.
With by far largest team of 831, it is poised to shine in
badminton, rowing, traditional boat races, pencak silat martial
art, wrestling, weightlifting, karate, tae kwon do and cycling.
But its chances are slimmer in the major international sports
of track and field, swimming and gymnastics, which offer almost
100 golds.
It does not expect to take more than the seven of 44 golds at
stake in track and field, the same number it achieved two years
ago.
Thailand and Malaysia are favorites in athletics.
Aquatic
Indonesia will likely be left in the wake of Thailand and
Singapore in the swimming pool. But national coach Lukman Niode
was confident his squad would double the four golds it won in
swimming and diving in Chiang Mai.
Thailand will be the team to watch in gymnastics, based on the
20 golds they bagged two years ago. Indonesia, banking on a team
of veterans, has realistic chances for six of the 16 golds.
The host and Malaysia are expected to renew their perennial
rivalry in badminton, the only sport featuring the world's top
stars.
Indonesians Joko Suprianto and Hariyanto Arbi, both former
world champions, will have their work cut out for them against
young Malaysians Ong Ewe Hock and Yong Hock Kin.
The women's event is expected to be dominated by Olympic
medalists Susi Susanti and Mia Audina, in what may be a changing
of the guard for the Indonesian players.
Indonesia will also be seeking a clean sweep of the badminton
medals, which it last achieved in 1987. A Malaysian men's doubles
pairing quashed its hopes of making it seven out of seven at the
last Games. (amd)