RI bids to host Asian Kempo C'ships

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Kempo Association (Perkemi) will bid to host the 2003 Asian Championships after failing in its bids to host the 2001 Taikai (World Championships), which were given to Paris, and the 2005 Taikai to be held in Tokyo.

"Perkemi will present its bid at a meeting of the directors of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) in November. We will nominate Bali to host the 2003 event," one of WSKO's directors, Indra Kartasasmita, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

"We would have hosted the 2001 event if not for a protest by Portugal saying it was impossible for them to travel here because there were no diplomatic relations between the two countries at the time."

Indra, who is taking part in a congress in conjunction with the Taikai, said most athletes preferred to hold the 2005 event in Japan, the home of the martial art. (nvn)