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)