RI eyes beach volleyball, yachting medals
BANGKOK (JP): Indonesia is eying a bronze medal from its men's beach volleyball team and a silver plus a bronze from its windsurfers at the 13th Asian Games, which will start on Dec. 6.
The national beach volleyball team manager, Ahmed Solihin, said on Saturday that the duo of Agus Salim and Irilkhun Shofanna could finish at least third if they manage to maintain the fine form that helped them win two warm-up tournaments in Australia in October.
"The victories have boosted their confidence to win a medal, and I believe they have a great chance to make it," Ahmed said.
Agus and Irilkhun won the Dirty Dog tournament in Brisbane and another one in the Gold Coast during their Australian outing prior to their trip here.
Along with the ace pair, Indonesia will have a tandem of Anjas Asmara and Iwan Sumoyo on show in the men's beach volleyball.
But Ahmed was less upbeat on his women's team, due to the absence of Olympian Ni Putu Timmy Yudani, who retired earlier this year. Timmy had formed a formidable partnership with Engelbertha Kaize, ending the 1997 season at 13th in world rankings.
The Indonesian Volleyball Association picked Siti Nurjanah as Timmy's replacement, but Ahmed said her teamwork with Engelbertha lacked international tests. The new pair did not compete in the world Grand Prix series this season.
Ahmed rated Japan and China the chief opponents of his team but expected no serious challenges from former Soviet countries.
"In its latest world rankings, the international beach volleyball body put Japan and China above the rest of the Asian countries," he said.
"Teams from former Soviet countries may have prepared themselves but they have never competed in international competitions. We are blind about their strength," he added.
Beach volleyball competition will take place from Dec. 16 to Dec. 18 on sand courts at Bangkok's Hua Mark sports complex.
Separately, the Indonesian Yachting and Windsurfing Association's secretary-general Aji Sularso predicted that mistral race board specialist Oka Sulaksana and race board heavy hopeful Abdul Malik Faisal would lift Indonesia a silver and a bronze respectively.
"They performed consistently the most during the national training stint at Ancol beach, North Jakarta," Aji said. "Oka only lost to his Chinese rival and favorite at the China Open, which also served as a warm-up for the Asiad."
Indonesia has hired Australian coach Chris Lawrence in its bid to win medals in yachting at the Games, which will run from Dec. 8 to Dec. 13 at the Ao-Dongtarn and Jomtien Beach, Chon Buri province, southeast of Bangkok. (yan)