Rachmadi elected Percasi chairman

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Bambang Rachmadi was chosen by acclamation as chairman of the Indonesian Chess Federation (Percasi) on Sunday.

The federation's plenary meeting, begun on Saturday, chose Rachmadi to lead Percasi in the 1999-2003 period. He succeeds Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung. Akbar is also chairman of the Golkar party.

Rachmadi is currently president of the McDonald's fast food franchise. He was formerly director at Bank Duta and president of Bank Panin.

Rachmadi was given one month to select officials for the federation. Machnan Kamaluddin and Hendry Djamals are among those on the board.

"I will give all my time for the development of chess in the country," Rachmadi said, as quoted by Antara.

His ambition is to create world class chess players. He admitted that this could not be achieved without the cooperation of the federation's members.

"I am confident that we can create a world chess champion from Indonesia, as the country has players with potential. Now let us prove that we can achieve this target," Rachmadi said.

Rachmadi disagreed with suggestions that a lot of money is required to develop chess. "I don't see why we need much funding for chess. What we should concentrate on is improving our players."

Rachmadi's nomination as Percasi chairman was welcomed by several regional offices of the federation, such as Maluku, East Java, Jambi, South Kalimantan and South Sulawesi.

Alfa Budiman from South Sulawesi praised Bambang as being "professional and dedicated".

"Bambang always shows his confidence that chess will progress well and he aims to prove it in the coming four years," Alfa said.

Meanwhile, about 300 chess players from 27 provinces in the country are currently competing in the national championship at the Utut Adianto chess school in Bekasi.

The championship, held until April 16, is attended by top players like international masters Salor Sitanggang and Bobby Kurniawan, Fide master Hamdani and two young stars Susanto Megaranto and Taufik Halay.

National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar was at the school on Saturday to open the championship.

In his brief speech, Wismoyo expressed his hopes that the school could turn out good chess players.

"I hope that we can create players of the caliber of Utut, and I am confident that the school can do it," Wismoyo said. (lnt)