RI gunning for overall SEAG title

JAKARTA (JP): A national sports official says Indonesia will go all out to regain the overall title from Thailand at next October's 19th SEA Games (SEAG), but refuses to predict how many gold medals the country will collect in the biennial celebration.

"We are out to redeem the debacle of last year's Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, when the Thais once again dislodged us from pole position for the second time in the history of our participation in the event," said Joko Pramono, chief of the SEA Games centralized training camp.

However, he declined to speculate how many gold medals Indonesia would win at next year's Games, due to be held here.

"It is still too early to predict anything. After all making predictions is a difficult business," Joko said.

But without hesitation he singled out Thailand as the team to watch. "Thailand will once again lurk dangerously in our path to reclaim the overall championship title. No doubt about this."

Joko said that in Jakarta the Thais were expected to use a different strategy from the one they applied on their home turf last year.

"Thailand made the most of their home advantage during last year's Games. But here in Jakarta I believe it will use another strategy as it knows all along that we also will use the edge of being the host to maximum effect," he said.

He recalled how boisterously the die-hard Thai fans backed their favorites in Chiang Mai every time they played against Indonesians. "They showered derisive jeers on our athletes and even hurled insults at the Indonesians. They were hostile only to our athletes, not to athletes from the other countries," he said.

Joko refused to comment when asked if he would call on Indonesian supporters to treat the Thai athletes in the same way at the Jakarta Games. (bas)