Rest week for athletes prior to Chiang Mai Games
Rest week for athletes prior to Chiang Mai Games
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian athletes are resting their muscles but pumping up their spirit this week prior to their departure for the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
National sportsmen and women, except for those still on overseas stints, have all gathered here to strengthen their self- confidence before turning up for 10 days of tense, frenzied competition.
"This week is a conditioning period. No more rigorous training sessions except light practice for the athletes," project officer of the national SEA Games team, Arie Sudewo, said yesterday.
Arie said that the remaining seven days would be used also to cure injuries which have hit several athletes. "We will not drop the injured athletes out of the team. They should be fit before we leave Jakarta," he said.
The Indonesian contingent, comprised of 470 sportsmen and women, 111 coaches and 108 officials, is scheduled to pour into Chiang Mai on Dec. 6.
Arie said one male and one female shuttler, a female fencing athlete, a male basketball player and a male sprinter were undergoing medical treatment to heal injuries.
"The injuries are not that serious. They will recover in time," he said.
The shuttlers are Susi Susanti and doubles player Ricky Subagja; the fencing athlete is Erni Yusnita; the cager is Ocky Tamtelahitu; and the sprinter is Agus Ngamel.
Ricky was the last team member to suffer an injury. He hurt his back during a practice at the world badminton grand prix finals in Singapore on Tuesday. The injury forced world champions of Ricky and Rexy Mainaky to pull out of the season-ending tournament.
Arie reiterated yesterday that despite a number of injuries, the national team is set to win 30 per cent of the 334 gold offered during the Dec. 9-17 Games in a bid to finish first in the medal race. Indonesia will take part in 26 of 28 medal events.
"I'm still optimistic about our target," said Arie, who will lead the Indonesian team. Indonesia lost to Thailand in the 1985 meet in Bangkok.
Reduction
Arie confirmed that the National Sports Council (KONI) had dropped two players from the 20-man soccer team as required by the SEA Games Organizing Committee.
The All-Indonesia Football Association recommended that Yadi Mulyadi of Persib Bandung and Chairil Anwar of Asyabaab Surabaya on Tuesday be sidelined from the soccer squad. Yadi returned to his club, which is now playing the Asia Club Championship in Bandung, West Java.
"All the 20 players are our best, but we had to pick only 18," Arie said. "Both Persib and Assyabaab will benefit from their players' exit from the national team, due to the kick-off of the new season of the league," he said.
Chairil's exit coincided with the arrival of star striker Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, but assistant coach Andy Teguh said that he had considered removing Chairil a few days before Kurniawan joined the team.
The SEA Games squad, led by KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, will pay a courtesy call on President Soeharto at the State Palace tomorrow morning.
A meeting with the President has become a traditional for the national team ahead of an international event.
Gymnastics, cycling and table tennis teams will miss the meeting with Soeharto because they will not return home from their overseas stints but will fly directly to Chiang Mai.
On Saturday night, Wismoyo will spend a quiet night in contemplation at the Senayan indoor stadium. (amd)