RI lifters eye medals in lighter division
RI lifters eye medals in lighter division
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Apart from China's expected domination, Indonesian
weightlifting sees better medal prospects in the lower weight
women's categories at the 2002 Asian Games, a sporting official
said here on Thursday.
Based on information, including a recent study, "we see good
prospects for the womens' competition in the lower weight
classes," said Sebastian Hadi Wiharja, an official of the
Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding
Association (PABBSI), at the National Sports Council (KONI)
office in Central Jakarta.
Hadi was referring to the 48-kilogram and 53-kilogram classes,
for which Indonesia has Sri Indriyani and Lisa Rumbewas
respectively to contend for the medals at competitions in the
South Korean city of Pusan.
In those two classes, the national records are 12.5 kilograms
and 20 kilograms lower than the Asian records.
Given China's nearly invincible power, Indonesia seems to be
relishing a contention for either silver or bronze medals.
Rosmaniar, an Indonesian hopeful in the 48 kilograms contest,
will be categorized as the "dark horse" along with Thai
Wirathaworn Aree.
China is likely to deploy either one or two of its champions
cordon in Wei Gao, Liu Xiuhua, and Li Zhou.
Wei, only 16 years old, won the world championship in Turkey
in 2001. Liu is the world's and Asia record holder, while Li has
flourished in the junior competitions.
Hadi rated Chinese Yang Xia, Qiu Hong Xia and Li Feng Ying of
Taiwan, along with Win Swe-swe of Myanmar, as hot contenders in
the 53-kilogram category.
He said that Lisa, whose 117.5-kilogram record is rated top in
the clean and jerk lift in the world list, would stand to
potentially spoil her rivals, provided that she could improve her
snatch lift with a minimum of 100 kilograms.
Lisa was the silver medalist in the 48 kilograms at the 2000
Sydney Olympics.
Other weightlifters being groomed by PABBSI are Sri Indriyani,
Sri Hartati, Tanti Pratiwi, Yadi Setiadi, Nusyanto, Misdan Yunip,
Erwin Abdullah, Yudi Suhartono, Junaedi and Joko Hanggoro.
In the men's category, China is expected to face stiff
resistance from Iran, Qatar and South Korea.
Around 30 sporting categories will be contested at the 2002
Asian Games, which will run from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14. Indonesia
is tentatively preparing to send 169 athletes to compete in 19
events.
Altogether, there will be 15 gold medals at stake in the
weightlifting competition.