RI gymnastics body eyes 5 SEAG golds

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Gymnastics Association expects to win five gold medals in the SEA Games (SEAG) to be staged here next October.

Sri Hastuti Merdiko, the association's secretary-general, told The Jakarta Post and Kompas yesterday that the country is still relying on its hope on Jonathan Sianturi in the men's events and Novi Kartiana Sari and Afrina Suryani Siahaan in the women's events.

Indonesia, which only won two golds, one silver and four bronzes in Chiang Mai, Thailand last year, is preparing eight male and 10 female gymnasts and eight female rhythmic gymnasts.

In an effort to realize the goals, the federation is hiring five Russian coaches, two of whom are already here, to coach the national athletes.

"We need a choreographer who can also coach the athletes because our athletes lack of choreographic skills," Hastuti, nicknamed Tuti, said.

She added that national athletes often face psychological problems in international events.

"They become very nervous because they don't have enough experience in such events," she said.

However, the association is facing financial problems in sending athletes abroad because much of the budget is used to purchase equipment and to stage the centralized National Sports Council training program, which started in January 1996 instead of November 1996 as was initially planned.

Indonesia sees Thailand, which grabbed 20 gymnastics golds in the last Games, and Malaysia as its toughest rivals in the SEA Games.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) is to apply new rules, effective from Jan. 1, 1997, stating that each team consists of six athletes while only five can compete and only four are judged.

Another new rule is that all athletes taking part in the Asian Games and the Olympics must be 16 years old. The reason is to avoid injuries in athletes at a very young age.

"But it becomes a challenge for us because our athletes are having problems with their school, friends and diet programs at that age," Tuti said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's junior athletes are not enjoying much success in the SEAG Confederation competition, currently being held in Manila.

Nelli Astuti was only able to grab bronze medals in the all- round rhythmic event, hoop events and club event. Compatriot Oh Ze Ching won bronzes in the rope and ribbon events. (yan)