RI athletes to compete in seven events for sure: KONI
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)