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)