PRSI hopes for two diving golds at SEAG

PRSI hopes for two diving golds at SEAG

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) hopes
to take two golds from the diving events at the Kuala Lumpur
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in September by sending their
athletes on a one-month overseas stint to China.

"I can assure you of at least two golds from diving after the
training session in China," said coach Harly Ramayani firmly on
Friday.

The PRSI plans to send six divers -- Husaini Nur, Jimmy and M.
Nasrullah in the men's side and Eka Purnama, Nani Suryani and
Shenny Ratna Amelia in the women's side -- for the stint abroad.

Harly said all divers except Shenny are being prepared for the
newly introduced synchronized diving and individual events.

"We need to include Shenny in the training session because she
does not have any real challenge here. Her jump difficulty level
is already too high for her teammates," she said. "In general,
the six divers are our best."

The divers will compete in the Asian Championships in Tienjin
on May 28 and May 29 and the Grand Prix Final in Xi'an from June
1 to June 3.

"The divers need special training in the newly introduced
synchronized diving which uses twin towers. We don't have such a
facility here as yet," PRSI secretary-general Abdurrahim said.

"As for our individual divers, the training available here is
enough to allow them to achieve their best results."

The squad met with National Sports Council (KONI) chairman
Wismoyo Arismunandar prior to their departure to China on
Saturday.

Abdurrahim availed of the occasion to request that KONI assist
the divers financially to the tune of US$20,000.

"The PRSI hopes that the National Sports Council (KONI) can
help us financially as the training program is very important so
that we can achieve good results in Kuala Lumpur," Abdurrahim
said.

The PRSI is expecting to take six golds from swimming and two
golds from diving out of a total of 43 gold medals at stake in
the biennial event from Sept. 8 to Sept. 17.

Abdurrahim also reported that the PRSI would send 10 junior
swimmers to the Southeast Asian age-group swimming championships
in Kuala Lumpur in July.

"The 10 swimmers are those who managed to qualify for time
limit A which we set during the age-group national championships
recently. The limit is set to determine the SEA Games team."

"There are also several swimmers who broke time limit B who
also want to participate in the championships at their own
expense."

Wismoyo asked the PRSI to work hard in securing as many gold
medals as possible from the aquatic events.

"There are 43 events which are dominated by Malaysia and
Thailand. The events are very strategic especially if we can
snatch more golds from both of these reigning countries," he
said. (nvn)