RI athletes to compete in seven events for sure: KONI
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's athletes are destined to represent their country in at least seven events in the upcoming Asian Games
The seven events are a sure thing, with the national sports council (KONI) hinting that the country will take part in no more than 15 out of the 34 events contested.
KONI chairman Surono said upon swearing in board members of the Indonesian Pencak Silat Association (IPSI) yesterday that he considered badminton, tennis, boxing, archery, track and field, equestrian events and surfing the fields in which Indonesia could win medals.
"Based on their latest performances, there is no doubt that athletes from the seven sports qualify for the Asian Games," Surono said.
He refused to list the other events the national squad will compete in at the Oct.2-16 sporting extravaganza in Hiroshima, but promised to announce the team's composition next week.
Surono said rowing might be given a chance pending a decision on the number of rowers Indonesia can bring. KONI needs only four rowers but the national rowing body (PODSI) asked for eight.
KONI has decided to pick only athletes with great chances of taking medals to don the national colors at the continent's biggest sport gathering due to financial constraints.
KONI has been facing a cash drought since the banning of the controversial SDSB lottery last October. Lacking Rp 3 billion (US$1.4 million) out of a Rp 6.5 billion ($3 million) set budget, KONI has called on entrepreneurs to help solve the problem.
The chairman also said that national football players have a slim chance of joining the Indonesian team. "We will decide their fate if they triumph in the Independence Cup," Surono said.
The national soccer team, which has been grouped with Asian soccer giant South Korea, China and Kazakhstan in the Games, will have its final test during the international championship in Surabaya, East Java, next week.
Results
The national sports governing body has been screening athletes from 20 events since last November. It will have to announce the results by Sept.2, and to decide the team's lineup 20 days earlier than the schedule, upon request of the Hiroshima Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC).
HAGOC rescheduled the deadline for entry by name as they are worried about the possible swelling of the number of participants.
"It does matter to us and all participating countries," said KONI executive chairman Soeweno who has just arrived from Japan for a meeting with HAGOC.
Athletes from 43 countries will enter the 14-day sport festival, battling for 800 gold medals up for grabs in 37 events.
The committee invited Indonesia to participate in equestrian events and tennis, but Soeweno denied that athletes from both sports will receive privileges in the formation of the national team.
"Performance is always the lone standard to decide whether an athlete qualifies for the Games or not," Soeweno said.
Surono installed IPSI board members yesterday. The board is led by Eddie Nalapraya. IPSI gave Eddie another four-year term in office during its plenary meeting last month. (amd)