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)