RI canoe polo team lies 11th

JAKARTA (JP): Despite finishing 11th at the world canoe polo championships in Adelaide, Australia, Indonesia's seven-man team has achieved a spectacular feat by beating strong teams from Canada, Brazil and Hong Kong.

Secretary-general of the Rowing and Canoeing Association of Indonesia Budiman Setiawan was quoted by Antara on Monday as saying that the result was encouraging given that Indonesia had made its debut in the championships. He said his side was weak when it came to rowing techniques and hitting the ball.

Twenty-two countries competed in the world championships which ended Sunday: Australia won, England came second and Italy came third.

Indonesia has twice won Asia's canoe polo championships: in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1993 and in China in 1995. (arf)