RI expects five medals in TT at SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian table tennis team does not expect to repeat a clean sweep in the 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but has vowed to maintain its strong grip on the men's competition.
"Our men's players are not in question. I'm only worried about the women's team," national head coach Leman Afandi said yesterday. "Winning five out of seven gold medals looks fair," he added.
Leman said he was keeping an eye on Chinese-born Singaporean, Jin Jiuhong, whose world ranking of 14 will outclass those of her opponents.
"She is not only favored to win the singles crown, but perhaps other gold medals from the team and doubles events," Leman warned.
The coach also revealed his disappointment over his female players' performance during their Chinese outing prior to the World Championships in Tianjin, China. "They struggled all the way to beat local players there," Leman complained.
The Indonesian Table Tennis Association has picked Rossy Pratiwi Dipoyanti, Mulatsih, Yulianti and Nunik to form the nucleus of the women's team.
The Indonesian women finished 34th in the World Championships and their male compatriots 31st. Other Southeast Asian teams finished beyond 40th.
Leman said he was banking on his men to salvage Indonesia's pride in SEA Games table tennis, particularly after two-time singles winner Anton Suseno returned to the team.
Anton will spearhead a five-strong team which include national champion Hadiyudo, Deddy da Costa, Mohammad Arkham and Ismu.
Anton, who previously refused a call-up for a job commitment, will play singles and doubles in both team and individual events. He is also expected to compete in the mixed doubles.
"It's not an over-heavy duty. I am used to working hard," Anton, the only Indonesian to join a league abroad, said. Anton will team up with Hadiyudo in the men's doubles and either Rossy or Mulatsih in the mixed doubles.
All the paddlers will undergo another stint in China on Nov. 8. The team will tour Beijing, Shanghai and some other Chinese cities for training and matches against local players. They will leave for Chiang Mai after their outing.
Soccer
Meanwhile, the All-Indonesia Football Association promised yesterday to announce their SEA Games team on Sunday. The association's secretary-general, Soeparjo Pontjowinoto, said the PSSI will reveal 20 players who are shortlisted from 22 footballers now being groomed for the Games.
"There will only be 18 men eligible for the Games, according to the rules. We will send the definite names by Nov. 5 as required by the organizing committee," Soeparjo said.
The national soccer team, a blend of professional players who are joining the premier league and junior players, won its fourth successive warm-up match by beating Persiba 1-0 at Balikpapan, East Kalimantan on Wednesday.
Coach Romano Matte has inserted four junior players who represented Indonesia in the Olympic qualifying matches in August. The juniors have also completed their two-year stint in Italy.
Indonesia is grouped with host and defending champion Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam in the SEA Games. Soccer competition will start on Dec. 6, three days earlier than the Games' opening ceremony. (arf/amd)