RI may only send 8 sports to Asiad

JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council has estimated that Indonesia is likely to be represented in only eight sports at the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December.

The council's secretary-general, Rudolf S. Warouw, said yesterday that the decision as to which sports would be sent to the quadrennial event would be made in August.

"Probably, the council will only send eight sports but we'll decide in August, at the end of the first phase of the national training program," he said.

"If, during training, some athletes, who were predicted to win bronzes, eventually win golds in the tryouts, we'll consider sending them to the Asiad," he told Antara.

The council has announced the sports it reckons might win at least silvers at the Games offering 377 golds are badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, karate, shooting, tae kwon do, tennis, weightlifting, windsurfing and wushu.

Canoeing, fencing, rowing, sepak takraw, swimming, wrestling, equestrian, gymnastics, indoor volleyball, judo, soccer and track and field are sports which might win bronzes or reach the top four at the Asiad.

Warouw said the council would monitor the athletes' performances during the training program.

"If our athletes can match Asian records or even break them, the council will undoubtedly send them to the Asiad," he said.

"They just have to assure us that they have a great chance to win medals. The council will refer to the government instruction to only send sports with (medal-winning) potential to the event," he said.

The council's task force chairman, Muhammad Hindarto, said earlier this week that only sports which could reach the top four positions in Asia would represent the country at the Games, which will take place from Dec. 6 to Dec. 20.

Warouw also urged sports organizations to hire national coaches instead of foreign coaches due to the country's economic turmoil.

"In this monetary situation, sports officials must be able to negotiate with foreign coaches about their salaries. If the associations cannot afford to pay the salaries, they'd do better to use the funds to improve athletes' standards," he said.

"The organizations can use the fund to send athletes to compete in international events in order to improve their performances," he added.

Some sports organizations, including the archery, soccer, tennis and gymnastics bodies, are struggling to deal with the rupiah's downturn to pay the foreign coaches. (yan)