Purnomo to return to Asiad as manager

Purnomo to return to Asiad as manager

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian top sprinter Purnomo in the 1980s will make a
comeback at the Asian Games next year after the country's amateur
athletics body, PASI, named him the project manager for its
campaign at the quadrennial event.

PASI secretary-general Tigor Tanjung said on Friday that
Purnomo's inclusion in the team was expected to help reach the
country's medal-winning target.

"PASI picked Purnomo because of his extensive experience as an
athlete. Technically speaking, he knows how to handle athletes,"
Tigor said.

Purnomo also deserves the position due to his management
skill, according to Tigor.

Purnomo, who was a 100-meter semifinalist at the 1984 Olympic
Games in Los Angeles together with Ben Johnson of Canada, chairs
the athletes commission at PASI.

Currently, he is the sports marketing manager for PT Berca
Sportindo, the license holder of Nike sports equipment.

Tigor, however, admitted that PASI had yet to formalize
Purnomo's appointment.

"The important thing is that Purnomo has accepted his
appointment and we have been discussing how to prepare the
athletes," Tigor said.

Purnomo said he appreciated PASI's trust in him, but
acknowledged the herculean tasks he will be taking on.

"As a former athlete, it is an honor as well as a challenge. I
accepted it because I feel responsible for the declining success
of our athletics," he said.

"But I cannot reveal my program yet because I still have to
discuss technical matters with the coaches and PASI's athlete
development department."

"One thing is for sure, I will do my best to make the athletes
feel comfortable during training so they can concentrate on
achieving their best."

In next year's Asiad, the national squad will be without
middle-distance runner Supriati Sutono, who won Indonesia's first
athletics gold medal in 36 years at the last event in Bangkok
three years ago.

Last month, PASI summoned three women athletes -- pole vaulter
Ni Putu Desi Margawati, hammer thrower Yurita Ariyani and
sprinter Irene Truitje Joseph -- to start training for the Asiad.

Separately, PASI official in charge of athletes' development,
Ria Lumintuarso, admitted that Indonesian athletes had to work
hard to win medals at the Asiad, which will be held in Pusan,
South Korea next September.

"Desi, for example, has a personal best of 4.00 meters while
Asian pole vaulters jump between 4.20 meters and 4.40 meters.
Meanwhile, Yurita has thrown some 50 meters, which is still
behind Asian throwers who manage between 56 meters and 60
meters."

"But I believe nine months of training is enough to boost
their performance. Desi, for example, is using a new, longer pole
that enables her to leap over 4.20 meters," he added.