Provinces to focus on SEA Games

Provinces to focus on SEA Games

JAKARTA (JP): Preparing Indonesian athletes for the Southeast
Asian Games is the top priority for the National Sports Council
(KONI) and its provincial chapters.

Soegijono, the chairman of the council's Central Java chapter,
said KONI's training director Hindarto told him not to be too
concerned with preparations for the National Games (PON) slated
for September next year.

"For the time being, we must concentrate on preparations for
the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand in December this year and on
how we can fulfill our target to retain the overall championship
title," Hindarto was quoted by Antara as saying. Hindarto
accompanied KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar on his visit to
Semarang, the capital of Central Java, to open an international
bridge tournament on Thursday.

Soegijono earlier expressed concern over the fact that KONI
has not yet set the schedules for each sport to be contested in
the qualifying rounds for the National Games.

Traditionally, qualifying round matches should begin one year
prior to the National Games. This means that the first qualifying
round matches should start in September and the schedules should
have been issued by now to help provincial chapters to plan their
preparations.

Wismoyo, in response to Soegijono's concern, said that the
various national championships to be held this year by each
sports organization should serve as the qualifying round matches
for the Games.

Wismoyo was speaking after opening an international foursome
bridge open tournament in Semarang, Central Java, on Thursday.

Six foreign teams from Japan, China, Hong Kong, India, Chinese
Taipei and England are taking part in the three-day tournament,
which will be concluded tomorrow.

Australia and the Netherlands withdrew from the annual
tournament, which offers a total cash prize of Rp 80 million
(US$36,000), including $10,000 for the first winner.

Indonesia has 49 teams from various cities and provinces,
including strong teams from Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, West Nusa
Tenggara, Denpasar, Padang and Central Java, competing.

The organizer, a cigarette manufacturer, expressed hope that
bridge would be included in next year's National Games.

Wismoyo said he would consider the suggestion, but added that
the kinds of sports contested during PON are those which are
contested at the Olympics, the Asian Games and the Southeast
Asian Games. Bridge is never contested at those meets.

Contract bridge, like chess, has its own Olympic-level
championship, the Bridge Olympiad. (arf)