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)