RI prepares for 1997 SEA Games
RI prepares for 1997 SEA Games
JAKARTA (JP): Two sports organizations have taken an initiative to start preparing their athletes for the 19th Southeast Asian Games here next year.
One of them, the Indonesian Track and Field Association (PASI), has even taken preparatory action along the lines suggested by the National Sports Council (KONI) following Indonesia's humiliating performance in the SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand last year.
The Indonesian Shooting Association (Perbakin) is the other forward-thinking organization, but it will only kick off its training camp at the end of the fasting month on Feb. 21. It is currently completing its national selection for the SEA Games.
Gurmilang Kartasasmita, an official with PASI, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the centralized training program began on Jan. 3, involving a combination of 40 senior and junior athletes. Others train in the association's provincial camps.
Gurmilang was speaking at the national congress held by KONI yesterday. A total of 121 representatives of all provincial sports bodies, sports and sports-related organizations under KONI's supervision are attending the annual meeting which concludes today.
KONI has not formally asked the sports organizations to begin preparation for the SEA Games.
Thailand topped the medals tally of the last Games with 157 golds, 98 silvers and 91 bronzes. Defending champions Indonesia finished a distant second with 77 gold, 67 silver and 77 bronze medals.
KONI believe that long-term training camp programs contributed significantly to Thailand's success in Chiang Mai. By contrast, Indonesia only spent eight months preparing for the Games.
Gurmilang said that the national track and field team being groomed for the 19th SEA Games here next year will appear at the Malaysia Open and Singapore Open later this year.
Gurmilang admitted that if the athletes reach their peak performance in these two outings, they might hit a slowdown during the 14th National Games scheduled for September.
"If this happens, it will not be beneficial for the provinces to which the athletes belong," Gurmilang said.
" But for PASI, the two Opens are much more important than the National Games. The two competitions are Asian-level ones, in which athletic superpowers including China and Central Asian countries will take part."
KONI training director Hindarto said however that the training sessions run by the two sports bodies were not set up just for the 19th SEA Games.
"As far as I know the camps are part of their annual training programs. They can, of course, focus the programs toward the 19th SEA Games," Hindarto said.
According to Hindarto, the upcoming National Games will be the first eligibility test for athletes who want to wear the national colors in 19th SEA Games. (arf)