PRSI hires Rumanian coach for water polo

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) has hired Rumanian Paul Nikulesku to coach the water polo team ahead of the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2001.

"Nikulesku will arrive here on Monday and handle the water polo athletes," PRSI deputy secretary-general Dadeng Kurnia was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Thursday.

"He was assigned as the head coach because he has shown good results. He has coached our team three times," he said.

PRSI also called on two national coaches to prepare the water polo athletes for the Games, but only Boyke Mulyana answered the call.

Indonesia won the silver medal in water polo at the Jakarta SEA Games in 1997, but finished out of the medals at the Bandar Seri Begawan SEA Games in 1999.

"Currently, there are 27 athletes at the training center but only 20 athletes will go to the Games," Dadeng said. (nvn)