RI grooming 1,017 athletes for SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): The 19th SEA Games centralized training is grooming 1,017 athletes for the biennial event in October.
Training chairman Togi M. Hutagaol said before the athletes, National Sports Council officials, representatives of the Games consortium and chairman of several sports organizations at the Gathering Night at the Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium yesterday that the athletes were selected from 1,214 athletes earlier this month.
The final selection will take place on Aug. 1.
Twenty-nine foreign coaches and 164 local coaches are responsible for the training.
Sixty-nine athletes of 1,017 -- 16 track and field athletes, one snooker player, one golfer, four shooters, 18 swimmers, six gymnasts, 12 tennis players and 11 boxers -- are having overseas stints in Australia, the U.S., Germany, Italy, Uzbekhistan, Cuba, China, Japan, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Singapore.
"By the end of this month all sports organizations will discuss their evaluation during the training," Togi said.
Some sports organizations have trained their athletes out of Jakarta.
Weightlifting is grooming 30 lifters in Bogor and Lampung, 26 cyclists are being trained in Yogyakarta and Malang, East Java, 130 rowers, canoeists and traditional boat racers are being groomed at the Jatiluhur dam, West Java and 40 hockey players are being coached in Lampung.
Judo coaches its 30 judokas in Semarang, while 18 female softball players and 10 squash players are being trained in Bandung.
Athletes had a chance to take a break and amuse themselves last night as artist Dorce entertained them with dangdut music.
Athletes joined in the celebrations, dancing with Dorce and council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, training director Djoko Pramono, former city police chief M. Hindarto and former national sprinter M. Sarengat.
Trio comedians Bagito and pop singers AB Three also entertained the athletes last night.
The Indonesian Rowing Association's secretary-general Budiman Setiawan told reporters last night that the association will send the athletes to compete in four championships this month and early next month.
"We haven't given them any targets but the main goal is to know our rival strengths, especially the Thai and Filipino rowers," he said.
Indonesia will send its 64 male and female teams to compete at the Dragon Boat World Championship in Hong Kong from June 5 to June 17.
"Last year, we finished second after China. This year, we really hope to beat them," Budiman said.
The association will also send 25 athletes to the Dragon Boat International Championship in Penang, Malaysia from May 29 to June 3.
Twenty national rowers will compete at the Merlion Cup in Singapore. The team will leave tomorrow and is scheduled to return on June 2.
Another rowing team, consisting of 20 athletes, will be sent to the Australian Open Rowing Championship in Perth. The team, which will stay in Perth from June 12 to June 24, will conduct biomechanic tests at the Western Australian Institute of Sports Laboratory.
"The most important thing for athletes is to have competition before the Games," Budiman said.
Budiman expressed his gratitude to sponsors Djajanti Group, Gaya Wahana Timber, the Navy Chief Vice Admiral Arief Kushariadi and the council. (yan)