Recovered Lili set for SEAG badminton event
Recovered Lili set for SEAG badminton event
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women's doubles player Lili Tampi is set for the 18th Southeast Asian Games badminton competition after recovering from a leg injury.
National women's team coach Imelda Wiguna told reporters yesterday that doubles specialist Lili has resumed her training program with her long-time partner Finarsih this week.
"I'm convinced that Lili is ready to play in the Games," said Imelda, a prominent world doubles player in the 1970s.
The knee injury has cost Lili and Finarsih a ticket to the world grand prix finals in Singapore from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3. They dropped from third at the beginning of the season to beyond the elite group of eight in the rankings.
Only eight doubles teams are eligible for the season-ending tournament.
Lili made her last appearance at the World Cup here in September, when she and Finarsih crashed out of the early round.
The drastic drop in their in world rankings may also dash the pair's hopes of playing in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Lili won all her doubles matches to help Indonesia regain the prestigious Uber Cup women's team championship trophy last year. Indonesia last took the Cup in 1975.
Imelda said that Lili and Finarsih will now focus on the SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand next month. The coach added that Lili's inclusion in the national team is expected to spur its bid to sweep all seven badminton gold medals.
Favorite Indonesia has picked men's singles Joko Suprianto and Ardy Wiranata, world men's doubles champions Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, women's singles Susi Susanti and Mia Audina and world women's doubles number five Eliza and Zelin Resiana for the SEA Games.
World champion Hariyanto Arbi and Olympic gold medalist Alan Budikusuma were sidelined from the national badminton squad for the Games.
Also yesterday, the Indonesian equestrian team denied that the disadvantage of riding unfamiliar horses would prevent it from winning two gold medals in the SEA Games.
"We don't think it will matter to us. We mean to get medals there, whichever horses we ride," national SEA Games equestrian project officer, Suheryana, said.
He requested that the organizing committee distribute the horses fairly. "They should not group good horses for certain teams and give the remnant to the other teams," he said.
Suheryana met the Chairman of the National Sports Council, Wismoyo Arismunandar, yesterday prior to his team's departure to the Asia Pacific Equestrian Championships in Wereby, Victoria, Australia, slated for Nov. 13 to Nov. 18.
"Our athletes will learn how to get used to riding unfamiliar horses as quickly as possible during the championships," Suheryana said.
Most Southeast Asian countries are expected to enter the championships.
The Indonesian team comprises Ardy Hapsoro, Diah Wulandari and Endaryanto, who will compete in dressage; show jumpers Indra Rosendi, Albert Palelu and Romi Syahrial, and the three-day event trio of Sutoyo Haryanto, Nasri Labonu and Gutomo.
Equestrian events will offer nine gold medals in their first inclusion at the SEA Games in Chiang Mai. (amd)